In John Dryden’s poem “Absalom and Achitophel” (1681), what contemporary political figures do the title characters represent?

In the Bible, Absalom is the son of King David spurred to rebellion by Achitophel.

In John Dryden’s satire “Absalom and Achitophel”, Absalom represents the Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate son of King Charles II, while Achitophel is the Earl of Shaftesbury.

In the Bible, Absalom is the son of King David

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