Poesy” is one of the most important works of English literary criticism. It was written in 1668 during the time when England was at war with the Dutch, and theaters had been closed due to the plague. Dryden wrote this essay in the form of a dialogue between four characters: Eugenius, Crites, Lisideius, and Neander. Each of them represents a different point of view about drama. Dryden presents different arguments about English and French plays, classical and modern drama, and the use of rhyme. Here are the salient features of this essay.

Written as a Dialogue: Instead of writing a direct essay, Dryden presents his ideas through a conversation among four friends. They take a boat ride on the Thames River. Each character represents a different viewpoint:

• Eugenius – Supports modern English drama and says it is better than ancient Greek and Roman plays.
• Crites – Defends classical (Greek and Roman) drama and criticizes modern plays.
• Lisideius – Favors French drama and says it is superior to both English and classical plays.
• Neander (Dryden himself) – Defends English drama, especially Shakespeare and Jonson, and argues that plays should entertain audiences rather than strictly follow rules.

This dialogue format makes the essay more engaging and easier to follow.

Debate Between Ancient and Modern Drama: Dryden discusses whether ancient (Greek and Roman) drama is better than modern drama. Crites argues that ancient drama is superior because it follows strict rules, maintains unity, and is based on high moral values.

Eugenius replies that modern drama is more creative, more natural, and more entertaining. He believes that ancient drama was too rigid and outdated. Dryden does not completely reject classical drama but supports the idea that modern plays have their own strengths. 

Comparison Between English and French Drama: One of the key discussions in the essay is whether English or French plays are better. Lisideius praises French drama, especially the works of Corneille and Racine. He says French plays follow strict rules, maintain unity, avoid violence on stage, and focus on polite and elegant language.

Neander (Dryden) defends English drama. He argues that Shakespeare and Jonson wrote more powerful and emotional plays, even if they did not always follow strict rules. English drama has more variety, more action, and more natural speech.

Dryden believes that French drama is too cold and artificial, while English drama is full of life and passion. For strictly following the three unities, Dryden says French plays become perfect but lifeless—

“They are indeed the Beauties of a Statue, but not of a Man.”

Discussion of the Three Unities: The three unities (unity of time, unity of place, and unity of action) were rules that French dramatists followed strictly. Dryden discusses whether these rules are necessary. Dryden accepts unity of action (a play should focus on one main story). He rejects the unity of time and place because a story should not be limited to a day or to one place. Dryden argues that strict rules limit creativity. A good play should feel natural rather than be forced into a rigid structure. He says, drama should give us:

“A just and lively Image of human nature.”

Defense of Rhyme in Drama: A major part of the essay is about whether plays should be written in rhyme or blank verse. Crites argues that rhyme is unnatural in plays because people do not speak in rhyme in real life.

Neander (Dryden) defends rhyme, saying that it makes plays more artistic and refined. He believes that well-written rhyme can improve the beauty and impact of a play.

The Purpose of Drama: Dryden believes that the main purpose of drama is to entertain and instruct. The purpose of drama is—

“For the delight and benefit of mankind.”

He argues that a good play should engage the audience and also teach moral lessons. He admires Shakespeare for his natural storytelling and Ben Jonson for his well-planned plots.

A Balanced Approach: Unlike some critics who blindly follow strict rules, Dryden takes a balanced and practical approach. He does not reject ancient drama or French drama completely, but he prefers English drama because it is more emotional, varied, and entertaining.

To sum up, Dryden’s “An Essay of Dramatic Poesy” is an important work because it analyzes drama from different perspectives. It is written in a simple and engaging way as a dialogue, making it easy to understand. Dryden supports English drama and argues that plays should be creative, emotional, and entertaining rather than strictly following rules.