Absalom and Achitophel

Poetry | John Dryden
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Dryden’s Use of Irony in “Absalom and Achitophel.”

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Analyze Dryden's use of irony in “Absalom and Achitophel.”

Irony means saying one thing but meaning another. “Absalom and Achitophel” (1681) is a famous poem by John Dryden (1631-1700). It is full of irony. Dryden uses it to mock and criticize. He praises rebels while showing their faults. He calls foolish acts wise. This makes his satire sharp and funny. The poem seems simple but hides deep meanings. We will see how Dryden uses irony to attack his enemies. He does this while seeming fair and balanced.

Ironic Praise: Dryden praises Absalom and Achitophel. But the praise is not true. He says Absalom is full of charm and hope. But the reader sees his weakness. He wants power and believes lies. Dryden also calls Achitophel wise. But Achitophel only uses tricks. The poet writes that Achitophel is: 

“Resolv'd to ruin or to rule the state.”

He lies to Absalom and
fools the people. So, Dryden uses false praise. He seems to admire them, but he mocks them. This is a clear use of verbal irony in the poem.

Father and Son Bond: David is both king and father. He loves Absalom. But this love brings problems. David’s love stops him from punishing Absalom. Dryden shows David as soft and gentle. It is evident in the following line.

“Beware the fury of a patient man.”

His softness is good, but also bad. A king must be strong. A father must forgive. David tries to do both. This situation is full of irony. His kind heart leads to danger. The son he loves becomes his enemy. 

Biblical Irony: Dryden uses irony and Bible stories to mock foolish people. He calls them, 

“These Adam-wits, too fortunately free,

Began to dream they wanted liberty:”

This means they already had enough freedom but wanted more. Dryden compares them to Adam in the Bible. Adam had true freedom under God. But still, he disobeyed and wanted more. In the same way, the people in Dryden’s time were not happy with the king. They wanted extra freedom and power. Dryden uses this irony to show their greed and pride.

War as Peace: Absalom walks with his men in a happy way. People cheer for him. It looks like peace. But it is not. Dryden calls this walk a “masquerade.” It means a show or drama. The people think it is good. But it is really a war in disguise. This is situational irony. Things are not what they look like. Dryden warns readers to see beyond the mask. War can come while people clap and smile.

Political Irony: Dryden pretends to support rebels. He says they want "liberty." But he shows they cause chaos. The plot lacks "common sense" but has "dangerous" results. This irony exposes rebellious foolishness. Dryden seems neutral but is not. He tricks readers into seeing the truth. The irony makes his criticism stronger.

In conclusion, irony makes “Absalom and Achitophel” strong and deep. Dryden does not speak openly. He lets readers find the truth. He hides his meaning under praise. He shows false peace, fake heroes, and blind love. All these are tools of irony. This helps him warn people against lies and pride. His irony makes the poem clever and rich. Readers enjoy the words and learn the message. Dryden’s use of irony is sharp, clear, and very powerful.

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John Dryden
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