John Dryden - Absalom and Achitophel: Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel is a political allegory. How does Dryden utilize biblical narrative to comment on the Exclusion Crisis and the political landscape of the Restoration period?
1
The biblical parallels are superficial and do not offer any meaningful commentary on contemporary political events.
2
Dryden's skillful use of biblical figures to represent key players in the Exclusion Crisis (e.g., Absalom as Monmouth, Achitophel as Shaftesbury) allows him to satirize political opponents, defend the monarchy, and explore the dangers of rebellion and factionalism within a framework that would have been readily understood by his audience, thus engaging directly with the pressing political issues of his time.
3
Dryden's poem advocates for the violent overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic.
4
The poem's primary purpose is to offer a purely theological interpretation of the biblical story without any political undertones.