mentioned Despite his virtues Absalom is easily influenced by flattery and manipulation especially by Achitophel The Master Manipulator-Achitophel Achitophel refers to the Earl of Shaftesbury He is a clever and ambitious character He uses his smarts and persuasive talk to control others He appeals to Absalom's desire for power and praise Achitophel does not mind playing tricks and he is very dangerous He plans plots and convinces others to help him Dryden shows how ambition betrayal and power can change people through Achitophel's actions Dryden says about him Of these the false Achitophel was first For close designs and crooked counsels fit Sagacious bold and turbulent of wit The Just Ruler-King David King David represents King Charles II He is shown as a wise and fair ruler Despite past mistakes he genuinely cares for his people and kingdom His patience and sense of duty make him a good king This contrasts with the rebellious Absalom and cunning Achitophel He highlights David's legitimacy The poet says And David's mildness manag'd it so well The bad found no occasion to rebel The Flawed Opportunist-Zimri Zimri represents the Duke of Buckingham Dryden portrays him as reckless and inconsistent He is driven by personal ambition and acts impulsively He is unreliable and often changes loyalties for personal gain Through Zimri Dryden criticizes the political intrigue in the poem In the first rank of these did Zimri stand A man so various that he seemed to be Not one but all mankind's epitome The Easily Swayed Crowd In Absalom and Achitophel Dryden shows how the masses are easily swayed and unreliable Dryden says about them No king could govern nor no God could please Persuasive leaders like Achitophel manipulate public opinion The people's blind admiration for Absalom despite his flaws highlights the dangers of following charismatic figures without thinking This criticizes the unpredictability of popular support Dryden's Mastery in Characterization By choosing these characters and linking them to biblical figures Dryden makes his political points more powerful and easier for his readers to understand He uses familiar stories from the Bible to comment on the contemporary political situation It shows the dangers of rebellion and the wisdom of loyal leadership He sketches the characters vividly in the poem In conclusion his skillful portrayal of these characters brings the poem to life They provide a sharp commentary on the political situation of th-century England Dryden's fine characterizations make Absalom and Achitophel a timeless work nbsp