A Literary Analysis of Matthew Prior's Poem The Epitaph and John Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel

The eighteenth century represented political and economic turmoil between the landed gentry known as the Torries and the middle class mainly the Whigs. Matthew prior's poem "The Epitaph" and John Dryden's poem "Absalom and Achitophel" present the two groups in different ways both socially and politically. In the two literary works, both Dryden and Prior also share similar views about the English. However, Dryden believes in a stable monarchy for his country's population in support of the Torries, while Prior satirizes the unexamined and meaningless life of the landed gentry because they hinder social growth.

The landed gentry in the eighteenth century believed that landed wealth is the only meaningful wealth. Being conservatives, they were strong supporters of the crown and church. In such, they believed in a complete monarchy which supported private property.

Prior in "The Epitaph," describes the landed gentry by their indifferent lifestyle in that they do not take heed and are apathetic towards what is happening around them concerning other people. He states:

"He cared not what the footmen did
Her maids she neither praised, nor chid:"
(Abs. and Ach, 22-23).

Prior also elaborates on the landed gentry's indifference towards relations with the poor and their non-involvement in community functions and holidays.

In addition to indifference, the landed gentry lead dull and idle lives. This is supported in the following:

"They soundly slept the night away,
They did nothing all the day;"
(Abs. and Ach., 11-12)

Because of Prior's view, he therefore believes some of the landed gentry's lives are meaningless. The landed gentry is an idiot gentry intensely sensitized by the issue of their land and therefore, paid taxes in order to secure their property.

In regard to common people, Prior sees the common people distinctly separated from the gentry in that the gentry does not want to build relations with the common people. Dryden stigmatizes the Whigs by associating them with subversion because they are a threat to Charles the Second's monarchy. Dryden states:

"The Good Old Cause revived, a plot requires
Plots, true or false, are necessary things,
To raise up commonwealths and ruin kings"
(Abs. and Ach., 82-84).

In "Absalom and Achitophel," Dryden sees a political need to institute and strengthen monarchy because of the political and economic turmoil He fears that the Whigs will upset the monarchy and therefore, they must be controlled. This can be seen in the following quote:

"Would keep him still depending on the crowd.
That kingly power, thus ebbing out, might be
Drawn to the dregs of democracy"
(Abs. and Ach., 225-227).

Prior, on the other hand, mocks at the landed gentry's economic , social and political ideologies because their interests do not extend beyond financial matters. Prior also satirizes their narrow ways of thinking and their blindness to the rest of their society because of their humanistic values.

In conclusion, both literary works are dramatic in their presentation of the Torries as a domineering group over the common people or Whigs. Dryden is regarded as a complete supporter of monarchy because monarchy has the power to bring order out of chaos whereas Prior sees the gentry's empty lives disadvantageous for the social, political and economic growth of his respective society.