Father And Son :: essays papers

Father And SonAs related to Absalom and AchitophelAbsalom and Achitophel begins in the world of Old Testament history. The wisplike biblical past of the opening lines lets the narrative to be setfrom 2 Samuel in a wide historical frame that hopes to legitimize thekings promiscuity by associating the king as father of the landIn pious times, er priestcraft did begin, Before polygamy was made a sinWhen one man on many work out his kind, Ere one to one was cursedly confinedWhen nature prompted and no law denied Promiscuous use of concubine and brideThen Israels monarch after Heavens own heart, His prompt warmth did variously impartTo wives and slaves and, wide as his command, Scattered his Makers image through the land. (l. 1-10)The association between God and David is made through the clever equation of divine and human fertility. There is some irony in seeingGods abundant creation reflected in the kings sexual extravagances, butthe irony doesnt reduce the positioning of the king. I t serves, at thebeginning of the poem, to separate the person of the king from the officeof the king.The opening scenes emphasize David as an indulgent father, not as head ofthe country. Davids pleasure in Absalom parallels Gods attitude towardAdam in the Garden. All of Absaloms motions are accompanied with grace,And paradise was opened in his face.With secret joy indulgent David viewedHis youthful image in his son renewedTo all his wishes nothing he deniedAnd made the charming Annabel his bride. (l. 29-34)The easy going nature of Absalom, put together with the specificreference to paradise, attention establish him as the figure from Eden thatwill be seen again in the temptation. The characterization of Davidemphasizes a combination of divine and human paternity. Like God, Davidtakes with child(p) joy in his creation like God, he supplies Absalom with aworthwhile bride. This serious presentation of David in his fatherly joyand indulgence, as compared to the divine model, cannot be taken ascriticism of the king. It strengthens the casual relationship between Godand David established at the opening of the poem. When attention iscalled to indulgence or weakness in Davids character, it is in a contextthat shows Davids indulgence to be a reflection of his paternal, ratherthan kingly, capacityWhat faults he had (for whom from faults if free?)His father could not, or he would not see. (l. 35-36)The emphasis is on Davids paternal indulgence. The initial presentationof David and Absalom closes with a declaration of the calm of Davids