Question

Que. 2 Explain Dryden's "Portrait of Shadwell”​

Answer 1

Answer:

MacFlecknoe is a fine short satirical poem in which Dryden has treated Thomas Shadwell with humorous contempt. It is both a personal and literary satire. Dryden presents Shadwell as a dull poetaster, a plagiarist and an obese idiot. Dryden uses heroic couplet for satirical purposes. Although MacFlecknoe is a personal satire, but ultimately, Dryden uses the persona of bad poet to criticize the decline of literary standards of his time. Thus MacFlecknoe does not remain a mere lampoon on a personal rival, but becomes a delightful work of art – a satire on a larger social scale. And satire in the poem is enlivened with wit and humour.

Dryden’s immediate purpose in writing “MacFlecknoe” was to expose Shadwell as a mediocre writer–and to get even for Shadwell’s offenses against him. Dryden had written a poem called The Medal, which was ridiculed by Thomas Shadwell in Medal of John Bayes, a coarse satire on Dryden. Dryden fully revenged himself on Shadwell by the publication of MacFlecknoe in 1682.

Dryden lampoons Shadwell mercilessly, although he avoids sarcasm and harangue (a lengthy and aggressive speech). Instead, Dryden uses the genius of his razor sharp wit to expose Shadwell’s writing as humdrum and uninspired. Early in the poem, Dryden uses hyperbole to stress the dimness of Shadwell’s imagination and creativity. Shadwell, the self-proclaimed heir

of Ben Jonson is presented as the son and successor of Flecknoe from whom he inherits the throne of dullness. He is the dullest son of Flecknoe.

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Answer 2

The explanation of Dryden's "Portrait of Shadwell”​ is as follows:

• John Dryden, a brilliant dramatist and poet of the seventeenth century, wrote a satirical poem called "Shadwell." Shadwell's picture is an excerpt from Dryden's satire 'MacFlecknoe,' which is named after Richard Flecknoe, a famously terrible poet and playwright of the late seventeenth century.
• Shadwell is mocked by Dryden because of his weak writing skills. Shadwell was chosen to succeed Flecknoe because his most distinguishing feature was his flawless dullness.
• Shadwell's massive size gave him a commanding presence. Dryden is playing on the stereotype that overweight people lack knowledge and common sense.
• Dryden compares his cumbersome body to a large oak tree that rules over the plains by blocking all light and blanketing everything in darkness. These trees are huge yet useless. Similarly, Shadwell's physique was perfectly matched to his folly because he was extremely obese but completely ignorant.
• As a result, we might conclude that this poem is a biting parody on Shadwell. The poet criticises his limited abilities as well as his overweight frame.

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