Absalom and Achitophel Character
D
David
Protagonist
Wise
Peaceful
Forgiving
Protective
David represents King Charles II of England. He is a wise and peaceful ruler who deeply loves his people and his illegitimate son Absalom. Though forgiving and protective by nature, he ultimately takes a firm stand to preserve the kingdom from rebellion.
A
Absalom
Antagonist
Popular
Proud
Ambitious
Easily manipulated
Absalom represents James, Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate son of Charles II. He is beloved by the people and physically handsome, but his pride makes him vulnerable to manipulation. Tricked by Achitophel, he becomes the central symbol of rebellion against his father.
A
Achitophel
Antagonist
Clever
Ambitious
Dangerous
Manipulative
Achitophel represents Anthony Ashley Cooper, the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, and serves as the poem's main villain. He is a former counselor who betrays David and masterminds the rebellion by manipulating Absalom. He cynically exploits religion and the language of liberty to spread chaos and advance his own ambitions.
A
Annabel
Minor
Noble
Obedient
Passive
Annabel represents Anne Scott, wife of the Duke of Monmouth. She is the noble woman whom David permits Absalom to marry. She has no biblical counterpart and plays a largely passive role in the narrative.
M
Michal
Supporting
Dignified
Childless
Legitimate
Passive
Michal represents Catherine of Braganza, the official wife of Charles II. As the queen who bears no children with David, her barrenness creates the political vacuum that makes Absalom's illegitimate claim to succession possible and contested.
B
Bathsheba
Symbolic
Alluring
Morally compromising
Passive
Symbolic
Bathsheba represents Louise de Keroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth and mistress of Charles II. She functions as a symbol of the king's moral weakness and personal indulgence, which his political enemies exploit to undermine his authority and reputation.
A
Amnon
Minor
Criminal
Bold
Reckless
Disgraced
Amnon represents one of Charles II's illegitimate sons. He is killed by Absalom for committing a grave crime, and his fate serves to illustrate Absalom's boldness and his complex mixture of desire for justice and personal ambition for power.
S
Saul
Symbolic
Tyrannical
Disruptive
Authoritarian
Illegitimate
Saul represents Oliver Cromwell, the ruler of England following the execution of Charles I. He functions as a symbol of past dictatorship and disorder, with Dryden using him to condemn the disruption of peace, lawful succession, and established order.
C
Corah
Antagonist
Deceitful
Fanatical
Chaotic
Manipulative
Corah represents Titus Oates, the fabricator of the Popish Plot. Portrayed as a false priest, he spreads deliberate lies and accusations against Catholics, plunging the nation into hysteria and chaos for his own notoriety and gain.
S
Shimei
Supporting
Corrupt
Bold
Disloyal
Abusive
Shimei represents Slingsby Bethel, sheriff of London and Middlesex. He is a corrupt and brazen enemy of David who abuses his official position to release traitors and persecute those loyal to the king.
Z
Zimri
Supporting
Foolish
Unstable
Inconsistent
Vain
Zimri represents George Villiers, the 2nd Duke of Buckingham. He is a volatile and ridiculous nobleman who dabbles in many pursuits but masters none, and Dryden subjects him to some of the poem's most biting satirical mockery.
J
Jotham
Supporting
Wise
Eloquent
Pragmatic
Persuasive
Jotham represents George Savile, Marquis of Halifax. Initially sympathetic to the rebels, he ultimately uses his considerable oratorical skill to help defeat the Exclusion Bill in the House of Lords, making him a pivotal figure in preserving the king's position.
H
Hushai
Supporting
Loyal
Principled
Steadfast
Articulate
Hushai represents Lawrence Hyde, Earl of Rochester, and is portrayed as a faithful ally of David. He speaks out firmly against the Exclusion Bill and consistently upholds the king's legitimate right to rule.
B
Barzillai
Supporting
Faithful
Respected
Steadfast
Generous
Barzillai represents the Duke of Ormonde, Dryden's own patron. He is depicted as a deeply loyal and venerable supporter who stood by the king through both prosperity and adversity, embodying the ideal of noble fidelity.
Z
Zadok
Supporting
Spiritual
Loyal
Devout
Law-abiding
Zadok represents William Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury. He serves as a spiritual and loyal guide to David, lending religious authority to the cause of lawful rule and legitimate succession.
SO
Sagan of Jerusalem
Minor
Loyal
Religious
Institutional
Supportive
The Sagan of Jerusalem represents the Bishop of London. He is a church official who remains loyal to David and to the established Church, reinforcing the alliance between crown and clergy against the forces of rebellion.
A
Amiel
Minor
Loyal
Industrious
Politically active
Supportive
Amiel represents Edward Seymour, Speaker of the House of Commons. He works from within the institutions of government to protect and advance the king's interests against those who would undermine royal authority.
A
Adriel
Minor
Loyal
Steadfast
Supportive
Principled
Adriel represents John Sheffield, 3rd Earl of Mulgrave, and is noted as a personal supporter of Dryden himself. He stands in firm opposition to Monmouth's rebellion and remains loyal to Charles throughout the crisis.
C
Caleb
Minor
Once loyal
Weak-willed
Easily influenced
Compromised
Caleb represents Arthur Capel, Earl of Essex. Once a faithful servant of the crown, he is now portrayed as a weakened figure whose lack of resolve allows him to be co-opted and used by the forces of rebellion.
B
Balaam
Minor
Selfish
Greedy
Unprincipled
Opportunistic
Balaam represents Theophilus Hastings. He is depicted as a self-serving leader who disregards truth and moral obligation in favour of personal profit and advancement, mirroring his biblical counterpart's defiance of divine command.
N
Nadab
Minor
Extremist
Fanatical
Self-righteous
Rebellious
Nadab represents William, Lord Howard of Esrick, a Puritan preacher. He is a religious zealot who cloaks his support for rebellion in the language of purity and reform, echoing the biblical Nadab's transgression of sacred boundaries.
J
Jonas
Minor
Also known as: Jonah
Evasive
Politically opportunistic
Complicit
Legalistic
Jonas represents Sir William Jones, attorney general. He is a government official who nonetheless supported the Exclusion Bill and played an early role in the legal proceedings against Catholics, making him a figure of institutional betrayal.
A
Agag
Symbolic
Innocent
Victimised
Sympathetic
Wrongly condemned
Agag represents Lord Stafford, a Catholic nobleman falsely accused by Titus Oates. He functions as a symbol of Dryden's sympathy for those unjustly persecuted during the hysteria of the Popish Plot, echoing the biblical Agag who was spared only to be later destroyed.
I
Issachar
Minor
Greedy
Selfish
Opportunistic
Disloyal
Issachar represents Thomas Thynne, a wealthy associate of Monmouth. He supports the rebellion not out of principle but purely for personal financial and political gain, embodying the mercenary spirit that Dryden associates with the opposition faction.