John Dryden - Portrait of Zimri
John Dryden a poet, literary critic and a dramatist, belong to Augustan era. Absalom and Achitophel appeared in 1681 and it is a political satire concerning events that occurred during the reign of Charles ll of England. As King Charles II did not have a legitimate child for the throne his brother James was suggested. But James was more inclined to Roman Catholicism and people were not in favour of that. However King Charles II had an illegitimate child called John of Monmouth/ Duke of Monmouth. As the King did not want his illegitimate son to be the king after him the Duke of Monmouth began to rebel against his father King Charles II. However since Dryden couldn’t write about these events openly he cloaked them in a biblical story of events that took place in the reign of King David which were of a parallel nature. Charles ll becomes King David, Monmouth becomes Absalom, and Shaftesbury; Monmouth’s helper becomes Achitophel. So that Monmouth revolt against Charles ll instigated by Shaftesbury is presented as Absalom’s revolt against David instigated by Achitophel. And Duke of Buckingham who was another co-worker of Monmouth is presented as Zimri. As the poet was partial towards the king Charles II in his poem he satirizes the Duke of Monmouth and his supporters. The poem consists portraits of different characters and here there is an explanation of the portrait of Zimri.
Portrait of Zimri
The poem is an allegorical, mock heroic epic and also a political satire. The poem was written during a time of political turmoil. In the poem the character of Zimri is based on Duke of Buckingham. Although the poem is based on political event there is also a personal attack. And Dryden had highly ridiculed Zimri or else Duke of Buckingham’s character. He was a poet, dramatist and also a politician. Though he had a brilliant mind he was inconsistent, extravagant and wasteful. In the above extract with his dramatic language the poet criticizes the character of Zimri though it sounds like praise. Here the poet presents different aspects of his life for example his occupations, life style, his reactions, likes, dislikes, his attitudes towards people and the way he spends money. Thus Zimri can be described as a fickle, inconsistent, excessive, irrational, irresponsible and profligate. The poet ironically points out all the positive aspects of his character by describing him with a sense of positivity. The poet has used an effective sense of balance. “Was chemist, fiddler, statesman and buffoon:” These can be quite exaggerative but at the same time it shows the extremities of Zimri. This extract from Absalom and Achitophel brings the theme of a man must be rational and be guided by reason as they have a greater social and moral responsibility towards others in the society. At the same time the extract brings the idea that public figures are guided by reason, as they have greater social and moral responsibility towards others in the society.
The portrait of Absalom contains characteristic features of the neoclassical era, such as simplicity, clarity, order, good sense and decorum. The portrait appears to present the character in a simple narrative/ discursive manner. But it contains beneath this surface a very strong tone of irony with humour. Each couplet presents a self contained idea or a description that helps to create Zimri as an excessive, irrational and irresponsible man. The restraint in the poetry lies in the control of the irony, what Dryden calls in his preface to the poem “sweetness in good verse, which Tickles even while it hurts” the clarity of the portrait lies in the presentation of those features without ornamentation which bring out the irony.
Poetry of Gerard Manley HopkinsHopkins is a Victorian poet. He was born in 1844 to a middle class family. He was converted to Roman Catholicism under the influence of Great Cardinal Newman. In most of his poems it is clearly evident a sensory vividness and keenness in intelligence. Furthermore most of Hopkins’ poems are highly individualistic poetry and particular to himself and he is a unique in much of his subject matter.