John Dryden's Conversion and Its Political Basis in The Hind and the Panther

Dryden's conversion to Roman Catholicism was a surprise for many Englishmen and a reason for scorn on the part of his enemies. The poet's conversion was not solely based upon theological foundations but was strongly conditioned by Dryden's desire to promote authority. Catholicism and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Language and Literary Studies of Warsaw 2014-01 (4), p.25-36
Main Author: Kaptur, Paweł
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
British & Irish literature
Catholicism
Critics
Dryden, John (1631-1700)
English literature
Oppression
Poets
Politics
Religion
Religious conversion
Religious literature
Social order
Theology
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Summary:Dryden's conversion to Roman Catholicism was a surprise for many Englishmen and a reason for scorn on the part of his enemies. The poet's conversion was not solely based upon theological foundations but was strongly conditioned by Dryden's desire to promote authority. Catholicism and its representative James II personified for him a greater authoritative power so much needed to find a balance between the state and the church. Since the poet regarded religion as a function of the state, he chose the Catholic faith as the most suitable religion to make the state operate effectively. Dryden's greatest concern was the enforcement of peace, order, freedom, and justice within the English nation, and the Catholic King was supposed to be the assurance of such a vision. This expectation is strongly underlined in The Hind and the Panther, which is not only the poet's personal confession concerning his conversion but a poetic debate about the origins and functions of authority.
ISSN:2300-5726