John Dryden was a prominent figure in English literature during the 17th century His poetry and plays were widely appreciated during his time, but a closer look at his works can reveal a lot about the poet’s struggles and complaints In this article, we will examine Dryden’s complaints and how they reflect the social and political issues of his time.
One of the most notable complaints in Dryden’s poetry is about the instability of political power The 17th century was a period of great political change and unrest in England The country had gone through a civil war, the execution of a king, and the restoration of a new one Dryden witnessed all these political upheavals, and his works often reflect his dissatisfaction with the instability of the ruling classes.
In his poem, “Absalom and Achitophel,” Dryden complains about the weakness and corruption of King Charles II The poem portrays Charles II as a lazy and pleasure-loving monarch who is easily manipulated by his advisors Dryden laments the fact that such a weak ruler is in charge of the country, saying, “Great wits are sure to madness near allied, and thin partitions do their bounds divide.”
Another complaint in Dryden’s works is about the decline of moral values in society The 17th century was a time of rapid social change, and old traditions and values were fading away Dryden felt that this was a dangerous development and that society was losing its moral compass In his poem, “Marriage A-la-Mode,” Dryden comments on the immoral behavior of the aristocracy, who were often involved in extramarital affairs and other scandals.
Dryden’s complaints also extend to the literary scene of his time He was critical of the intellectual and artistic trends that emerged during the Restoration period Drydens complaints. One of his most famous complaints was directed at the playwrights of the time, who he felt were overly focused on sexual innuendo and vulgar humor In his preface to “The Rival Ladies,” Dryden wrote:
“I must confess myself as much a stranger to some late plays which are the common discourse, as if I had never heard of the names of their authors; and though I have conversed with some of my acquaintance, who have seen them, yet I cannot learn from them what it is which pleases the people.. and vulgar jargon may pass upon the audience for wit, when the translation of Ovid has misled their judgments.”
Dryden was opposed to the use of excessive sexuality in literature, and he felt that it was detracting from the value of the art form.
Another important complaint in Dryden’s works is directed at the critics of his time Dryden was a prolific writer, and he faced a lot of criticism from his contemporaries He was often attacked for his style and use of language, and he felt that the critics were trying to stifle his creativity In his poem, “Mac Flecknoe,” Dryden satirizes his critics as “dull offspring of the brain,” and he mocks their inability to understand his work.
In conclusion, Dryden’s complaints in his poetry reflect the social and political issues of his time He was critical of the instability of political power, the decline of moral values, and the direction that literature was taking during the Restoration period He was also opposed to the use of excessive sexuality in literature, which he felt was detracting from the art form Lastly, he attacked his critics for trying to stifle his creativity and felt they were unable to grasp his work While his complaints may have been specific to his time, they still hold relevance today as writers and thinkers continue to grapple with the same issues of power, morality, and creativity Backlink