Importance of Using Censorship in Absalom and Achitophel

Introduction

The divisions between people who supported the traditional way and those who supported the republican form caused enormous problems in the Restoration Period of England. One of the mentioned problems is the exclusion crisis. The exclusion crisis was caused by Charles II’s Catholic brother James (the Duke of York), to prevent the ascension to the throne of Charles II. This period led to the formation of two opposing parties called the Tories and the Whigs. After Charles II came to the throne, the Popish Plot was created by Titus Oates. The Popish Plot is a conspiracy theory that claimed the Catholic society would organize a massacre of protestants, burn London, and kill Charles II to provoke the public. In the end, this caused religious controversies. Then, the Earl of Shaftesbury Anthony Ashley Cooper, who was on the side of Charles II at first, took the side of the opposite party for his profits. One of the most important poets of that period, John Dryden, included these complex and political events of the time in his poem “Absalom and Achitophel”. As John Dryden describes this period, he makes a connection between a biblical story and the events of the Restoration Period in England by using allegory instead of referring to the English society directly. The purpose of this essay is to reveal John Dryden’s use of allegory in Absalom and Achitophel as censorship. This paper also refers to how political and social issues were satirized and allegorized by John Dryden. The close reading technique is used to reach this result.

I. The Restoration Period of England

1. Political Issues

 Was it necessary to use censorship in the conditions of the Restoration Period of England? John Dryden used perceptible sensors in his poem Absalom and Achitophel. When the Restoration Period of England is considered in terms of political and social issues, it is an undeniable fact that there were complex events. After the civil war between those who supported the king and those who opposed the government, more problems began to arise. One of these problems is the exclusion crisis, a policy created to prevent Charles II from ascending to the throne. Another problem is the Popish Plot, which is the conspiracy theory created by Titus Oates, that the Catholics will massacre the Protestants. John Dryden explained these specific political issues and the social division of people by using censorship instead of using the names of real characters in Absalom and Achitophel. That is, he practiced the art of allegory by using characters from the Bible instead of real characters’ names. The purpose of using censorship here is to protect himself from his enemies from lynching him as he criticizes the society harshly. The Restoration Era’s political issues were debated in a satirical way using censorship in John Dryden’s poem Absalom and Achitophel and these issues are examined in this paper by using a close reading technique.

2. Social Issues

The restoration describes the period that begins with Charles II’s restoration of the English throne. There were disagreements between the king and the parliament in terms of religion, as religion has a vital importance in the Restoration Period of England. Charles II’s sympathetic attitude towards Catholics, acting with Catholic France in foreign policy, and his heir being his brother James I, who is also a Catholic, led to the uprising of parliament. These disagreements also led to the creation of the Popish Plot by Titus Oates. The main purpose of creating the Popish Plot was to dethrone Charles II and place his Catholic brother James I, the Duke of York, on the throne. It is a conspiracy against Charles II because it is just fictitious, not true, yet believed by society. “The extensive Catholic influence at Court gave English Protestants reasonable grounds for their fears of a popish plot.” (Thackray, 1984: 42).  The Popish Plot caused the Protestants to fear as it was written that the Protestants would be killed, London would be burned, and Charles II would be executed. The country came to the brink of civil war in what is called the Exclusion Crisis after splitting into two opposing views in terms of religion which were Catholics and Protestants. The crisis broke out of disagreements over whether James becomes king or not. One of the parties is the group that forms the liberal party known as the Whigs, the other party known as the Tories forms the conservative party. The Whigs argue that James should not be the king, and the Tories argue the opposite thought. “The Whigs meanwhile represented the dissenting interest and aimed to protect the Protestant monarchy with a Protestant heir. Under Shaftesbury's leadership, they promoted the exclusion of the Catholic York in favor of the King's illegitimate son, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth” (Mahlberg, 2012: 355).  The Earl of Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley Cooper served the king, Charles II, for 13 years. Even though he took the “Shaftesbury” superscription under favour of Charles II, he changed his political side taking the Protestant Duke of Monmouth to his side. Anthony Ashley Cooper tried to take James I to the throne and tried to end the Catholic thread by making this.

II. Political and Social Issues in Absalom and Achitophel

1. Allegory in Absalom and Achitophel

In Absalom and Achitophel John Dryden satirizes English society, the political issues, and the social issues in the Restoration Period of England. “The personal allusions in Absalom and Achitophel aroused curiosity from the start.” (de Beer, 1941: 298). For example, Dryden begins the poem with “In pious times ere priestcraft did begin” (Dryden, 2006: 2089). Here the pious times are associated with David, Israel’s monarch and herepresents Charles. In those times, polygamy was not a sin. It was not forbidden by law for a man to take both a bride and a concubine. Even though David was married to Michal, he had sons by several women because Michal did not give him a son. Since these sons were not from an official marriage, they had no right to take to the throne. “But since like slaves his bed they did ascend, No true succession could their seed attend. Of all this numerous progeny was none So beautiful, so brave, as Absalom.” (Dryden, 2006: 2089). Then, Absalom who is one of the illegitimate sons of David is introduced as more beautiful, and brave. Absalom represents Charles II’s illegitimate son, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth. David sees Absalom as his favourite son. “The Jews, a headstrong, moody, murmuring race, As ever tried the extent and stretch of grace.” (Dryden, 2006: 2090). Although David reigned peacefully, this would not last forever because the Jews he ruled were a headstrong, moody, and murmuring race. Also, the Jews represent English society. “The Good Old Cause 5 revived, a plot requires. Plots, true or false, are necessary things, to raise up commonwealths and ruin kings.” (Dryden, 2006: 2090). The Popish Plot is introduced and Dryden emphasizes here that the Popish Plot is not true, but it is believed widely and underlines that it is a conspiracy for the king saying, “ruin kings”. Although it is a great thing that the conspiracy fails, its dangerous consequences cannot be ignored. Society begins to revolt, and contradictions arise. “Achitophel still wants a chief, and none Was found so fit as warlike Absalom.” (Dryden, 2006: 2093). Achitophel refers to Anthony Ashley Cooper, the Earl of Shaftesbury. Dryden explained that Achitophel seeks power and can get this power from Absalom. John Dryden describes the reasons for defeating David and his use of Absalom as his pawn. Achitophel tries to convince Absalom that his father, David, is a weak king. “For the Shaftesbury of the satirists’ imagination, the cause did not matter so long as the politician was ‘in play’; and nothing would stand in the way of self-preservation.” (Spurr, 2016: 2). It is seen that Shaftesbury can make whatever is needed for his self-interest. In that sense, this shows his insincerity. “So, several factions from this first ferment Work up to foam, and threat the government. Some by their friends, more by themselves thought wise, Opposed the power to which they could not rise.” (Dryden, 2006: 2092). In these lines, two opposing parties, the Whigs and the Tories are represented. These parties are formed because of the Exclusion Crisis. The contradictory opinions caused tensions between The Whigs supporting Liberal thought and the Tories supporting conservative thought. Dryden wrote Absalom and Achitophel full of satire, telling the story of the Exclusion Crisis and the entitlement of Charles II to the throne.

III. Importance of Using Censorship in Absalom and Achitophel

1. Why does Dryden use censorship?

  In Absalom and Achitophel, John Dryden makes allegory because Dryden uses biblical characters rather than using the name of real characters. Each character Dryden uses from the Bible represents the character in the Restoration Period of England in Absalom and Achitophel and he makes censorship by using biblical characters. In addition to this, the Restoration Period of England is known as a great moment of censorship because the period has complex issues in terms of politics and society. “Censorship was not only repressive but also generative. Censorship and Conflict thus provides a dynamic account of the multiple and sometimes competing elements converging to shape the experiences of writers, government officials, and readers.” (Robertson, 2009: 220). Censorship is generative for Dryden because he wrote what he wanted to satirize about the Restoration Period of England. If he had not used censorship in his poem, he would not have written clearly because society would have prevented him from writing his thoughts clearly. It can be said that censorship is a shield for John Dryden because he wrote Absalom and Achitophel to defend the king, Charles II, and expose his enemies. It would have been possible that he would have new enemies if he had written without censorship. Also, since antiquity, censorship has been a contentious issue for thinkers, plus, polemicists and pamphleteers have provoked for and against it in large numbers.  As John Dryden uses censorship, he addresses the large numbers that are opposed to Charles II. Then, he wants to criticize contemporary social and political issues. Consequently, he creates polemicists between two groups that are the Whings and the Tories.

Conclusion

Briefly, the Restoration Era’s political issues were debated in a satirical way using censorship in John Dryden’s poem Absalom and Achitophel by using a close reading technique. John Dryden used biblical characters while he was explaining political and social problems like the Popish Plot and Exclusion Crisis in Absalom and Achitophel. When using biblical characters, it is visible how allegory art is handled and how the sensor protects Dryden in this paper. In addition to this, the importance of using censorship when describing political issues is discussed in this article.

References

Dryden, J. (2006) Absalom and Achitophel, Norton Anthology English Literature (8th ed., pp. 2087-2110). WW Norton. (Original work published 1681).

de Beer, E. S. (1941). Absalom and Achitophel: Literary and Historical Notes. The Review of English Studies, 17(67), 298–309. https://www.jstor.org/stable/509398.

Ian Y. Thackray. (1984). Zion Undermined: The Protestant Belief in a Popish Plot during the English Interregnum. History Workshop, 18, 28–52. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4288586.

Mahlberg, G. (2012). The Republican Discourse on Religious Liberty during the Exclusion Crisis. History of European Ideas, 38(3), 352–369. https://doi.org/10.1080/01916599.2012.674841.

Robertson, R. (2009). Censorship and Conflict in Seventeenth-Century England The Subtle Art of Division. Penn State University. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/j.ctv14gp06z.

Spurr, J. (2011). Anthony Ashley Cooper, First Earl of Shaftesbury 1621–1683. Ashgate.