Astraea Redux, written by
John DrydenJohn Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.-Early life:Dryden was born in the village rectory of Aldwincle...
in 1660, is a full-blown royalist
panegyricA panegyric is a formal public speech, or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing, a generally highly studied and discriminating eulogy, not expected to be critical. It is derived from the Greek πανηγυρικός meaning "a speech fit for a general assembly"...
in which Dryden welcomes the new regime of King
Charles IICharles II was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father King Charles I was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War. The English Parliament did not proclaim Charles II king at this time. Instead they passed a statute making such a...
. It is a vivid emotional display that overshadows the cautious
Heroique Stanzas that Dryden composed for
Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader best known for his involvement in making England into a republican Commonwealth and for his later role as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland.He was one of the commanders of the New Model Army which defeated the royalists in...
’s death. In the former, Dryden apologizes for his allegiance with the Cromwellian government, and Dryden was later excused by
Samuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, novelist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. Johnson was a devout Anglican and political conservative, and has been...
for his change in allegiance when he wrote, ‘if he changed, he changed with the nation.’
The period between Cromwell and the
RestorationThe English Restoration, often shortened to the Restoration, began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Commonwealth of England that followed the English Civil War...
is illustrated as a time of chaos in
Astraea, and Charles is greeted as a restorer of peace.
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Astraea Redux, written by
John DrydenJohn Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.-Early life:Dryden was born in the village rectory of Aldwincle...
in 1660, is a full-blown royalist
panegyricA panegyric is a formal public speech, or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing, a generally highly studied and discriminating eulogy, not expected to be critical. It is derived from the Greek πανηγυρικός meaning "a speech fit for a general assembly"...
in which Dryden welcomes the new regime of King
Charles IICharles II was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father King Charles I was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War. The English Parliament did not proclaim Charles II king at this time. Instead they passed a statute making such a...
. It is a vivid emotional display that overshadows the cautious
Heroique Stanzas that Dryden composed for
Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader best known for his involvement in making England into a republican Commonwealth and for his later role as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland.He was one of the commanders of the New Model Army which defeated the royalists in...
’s death. In the former, Dryden apologizes for his allegiance with the Cromwellian government, and Dryden was later excused by
Samuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, novelist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. Johnson was a devout Anglican and political conservative, and has been...
for his change in allegiance when he wrote, ‘if he changed, he changed with the nation.’
The period between Cromwell and the
RestorationThe English Restoration, often shortened to the Restoration, began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Commonwealth of England that followed the English Civil War...
is illustrated as a time of chaos in
Astraea, and Charles is greeted as a restorer of peace. In the traditional form of the panegyric, Charles is praised for qualities which it is hoped he will attain as much as for those he already possesses, and Dryden recommends that Charles adopt a policy of toleration.
As well as hinting that Dryden was looking for a royal patron, this poem is one which best demonstrates Dryden’s lifelong commitment to peace and political stability.
The Nuttall EncyclopaediaThe Nuttall Encyclopædia: Being a Concise and Comprehensive Dictionary of General Knowledge is an early-20th-century encyclopedia, edited by Rev. James Wood, first published in London in 1900 by Frederick Warne & Co Ltd.-Description:...
defines Astraea Redux as 'the name given to an era which piques itself on the return of the reign of justice to the earth.'