" John Dryden' s Essay of Dramatic
Poesy ".
Hello readers! Here, I am writing a blog. This blog is in response to our Bridge course :- " Of John Dryden' s Dramatic poesy. " This particular blog is inspired by Dr. Dilip sir barad - Department of English, Bhavnagar university. I am going to present various aspects and different arguments of John Dryden' s essay of Dramatic poesy.
Before going further, First let us have an introduction about John Dryden's Essay of Dramatic poesy and the introduction about Writer himself.
John Dryden is the greatest literary figure of the Restoration age. John Dryden was an English poet, literary critic, translator and playwright who was appointed " England's first poet laureate in the year 1668." In John Dryden's work we have an excellent reflection of both the good and the evil tendencies of the age in which he lived. He made excellent use of his opportunities and studied eagerly.
' John Dryden's Essay of Dramatic Poesy'
" Essay of Dramatic poesy " - work by John Dryden, England's first poet laureate in which he attempts to justify drama as a legitimate form of " Poetry " Comparable to the Epic. He defend English drama against that of the ancients and the French. This essay first published in the year - 1668.
In An essay of Dramatic poesy there are four speakers. Eugenius, crites, Lisideius and Neander. Each one argues very strongly as to which one is better ;
" Ancient or modern, and French or English? " These four are imagined speakers and these personages are :-
1. EUGENIUS - Charles Sackville
2. CRITES - sir Robert Howard
3. LISIDEIUS - Sir charles sedley
4. NEANDER - John Dryden himself
So, these four speakers present their own ideas in John Dryden's Essay -" Of Dramatic poesy. " His essay on criticism which attempts to lay a foundation for all literary criticism. This essay discussed the following ideas.
1. Ancients vs. Modern
2. Unities
3. French vs. English drama
4. Separation of Tragedy and comedy
Vs. Tragicomedy
5. Appropriateness of Rhyme in
drama.
These ideas are very much important. He discussed about these very elaborately in his great work.
" Definition of play, according to John Dryden's Essay :-
" A play ought to be a just and lively image of human nature, representing it's passions and humours and the changes of fortune to which it is subject, not for the delight but only for the instruction of mankind. "
Now I am answering to some allotted questions on the basis of my understanding about this topic.
Question 1 : Do you find any difference between Aristotle's definition of Tragedy and Dryden 's definition of play?
Answer : - Before We jump on any Conclusion, First we need to Understand about both the Concepts very clearly. So according to me First it is very much necessary to be clear about both the definitions given by Aristotle and John Dryden.
Aristotle 's definition of Tragedy :-
• " A Tragedy is the imitation of am action that is Serious and also having magnitude, Complete in itself, in appropriate and Pleasurable language. "
John Dryden 's definition of Play :-
• " A Play Ought to be a just and lively image of human nature , represents its Passion and humours , and the change of Fortune to which it is Subject , for the delight and instruction of mankind."
After Aristotle Here is a Person who is giving us a very well - firmed definition of Play. If we look at Dryden 's definition, through the Character of Lisideius he does not say that ;
" I am offering a definition, he says that I am offering a description." Although he is taking influence from Aristotle 's definition of tragedy. So subsequently he is actually carrying on the tradition. We can find that the definition broken up into three parts.
1. ' Just and lively image of human nature '.
2. 'Representing Passion and humours , and the change of Fortune to which it is Subject.'
3. ' For the delight and instruction of mankind.'
In Dryden 's definition there is the Word 'Image ' he is really not bothered about the word but he thinks that Image is okay, if it is Just - Another important word in Dryden 's definition. But , Just image can also be a very drab kind of an image and that is why he inserted the Word - 'lively. ' So , it becomes ' Just and lively image of nature.' Aristotle 's definition of tragedy ended with the Word - ' Catharsis whereas Dryden seems to be ended his definition with delight and instruction of mankind. So we can say that both have the similar ideas in one or the other way.
Conclusion :- To conclude the Point we can Clearly Understand that the aim of both definition is to delight the readers. Aristotle firmly follow the tradition of tragedy and John Dryden has his own rules of Play.
Question 2 :- Do you think that the arguments Presented in Favour of the French Plays and against English Drama are appropriate?
Answer:- In this essay, each character expresses his own views on drama and compares French and English drama and discuss their comparative merits and demerits in the light of Classical Unities. Actually John Dryden attempts to make a Clear distinction between Ancient writers and Modern writers. He also discusses the importance of ' Unity in French Drama.'
Lisideius :-
He Speaks in favour of the French works and he also agrees with Eugenius that English dramas were superior at the time of Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher. But later on it decayed and declined. Basically they live in full of bloodshed and Violence, Whereas Poetry is an art of Peace. In the late 17th century, it Flourished in France.
French Playwrights follow the Ancients and favour the unity of time and observe it very carefully. In terms of Unity of Place they are equally sincere. In most of their plays , the entire action is limited to one place. While In English plays , the character relates to life and reasonable that it should be also in the drama, but in French Plays such narrations are made by those who are in some way or the other connected with main action.
He says that the newer French writers are imitating the English Playwrights. He defends the English invention of tragi - Comedy by suggesting that the use of mirth with tragedy gives the audience relief from the heaviness of straight tragedy. He also suggest that the use of well - ordered sub - Plots makes the Plays interesting.
English plays are more entertaining and instructive because they offer an element of surprise that the Ancients and the French do not.
Conclusion :- To conclude my Point we can understand that English Drama is more interesting than French Drama. On the other side French writers represents the word ' Just ' like statue is beautiful but it has no life like Absurdity in theatres.
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