Mac Flecknoe

-John Dryden

As a Masterpiece of Mock-epic Poetry

Background : Mac Flecknoe (full title: Mac Flecknoe; or, A satyr upon the True-Blew-Protestant Poet, T.S.^[1]) is a verse mock-heroic satire written by John Dryden. It is a direct attack on Thomas Shadwell, another prominent poet of the time. It opens with the lines:

All human things are subject to decay,

And when fate summons, monarchs must obey^[2]

Written about 1678, but not published until 1682 (see 1682 in poetry), "Mac Flecknoe" is the outcome of a series of disagreements between Thomas Shadwell and Dryden. Their quarrel blossomed from the following disagreements: "1) their different estimates of the genius of Ben Jonson, 2) the preference of Dryden for comedy of wit and repartee and of Shadwell, the chief disciple of Jonson, for humors comedy, 3) a sharp disagreement over the true purpose of comedy, 4) contention over the value of rhymed plays, and 5) plagiarism.6) Shadwell fancied himself heir to Ben Jonson and to the variety of comedy which the latter had commonly written. Shadwell’s poetry was certainly not of the same standard as Jonson’s, and it is possible that Dryden wearied of Shadwell’s argument that Dryden undervalued Jonson. Shadwell and Dryden were separated not only by literary grounds but also by political ones as Shadwell was a Whig, while Dryden was an outspoken supporter of the Stuart monarchy.

The poem illustrates Shadwell as the heir to a kingdom of poetic dullness, represented by his association with Richard Flecknoe, an earlier poet already satirized by Andrew Marvell and disliked by Dryden, although the poet does not use belittling techniques to satirize him. Multiple allusions in the satire to 17th-century literary works, and to classic Greek and Roman literature, demonstrate Dryden’s complex approach and his mastery over the mock-heroic style.

q Introduction: Mac Flecknoe is the finest mock-heroic poem written by Dryden in which he has treated Thomas Shadwell with humorous contempt. The poem is both a personal and literary satire. Mac means Son and Mac Flecknoe means ‘son of Flecknoe’. Dryden presents Shadwell as a Dull Poetastar, corpulent man and a plagiarist.

Mock – Epic Beginning of the Poem:

Mac Flecknoe begins like a mock-epic poem. Dryden describes Flecknoe as a worthless poet. The poet compares him with Augustus Caesar, a great Roman Emperor. This is an ironic comparison. Flecknoe is called the “Emperor of the Realms of Nonsense.” The style used by Dryden is grand like that of an Epic. But the person described is worthless. So the language has become flattering and the victim is ridiculed. Thus, the poem begins in a mock-epic vein.

All human things are subject to decay,
And, when Fate summons, monarchs must obey:
This Flecknoe found, who, like Augustus, young
Was call'd to Empire, and had govern'd long:
In Prose and Verse, was own'd, without dispute
Through all the Realms of Non-sense, absolute

Mock – Heroic Hero or Pseudo Hero:

Just like mock-heroic poem, Mac Flecknoe has a mock-heroic hero or a pseudo hero. Shadwell, the hero of the poem, is heroic only in physical bulk. He is called “MacFleckncoe” which means the “son of a dull poet.” He is dull and worthless poet. He is as big as an oak tree. He is described with lofty words but with ridicule. He seems a great musician but is a dull one. Arion could attract big fish like dolphins, but Shadwell could attract only small fish. Finally, the mantle of the dull father fails on Shadwell and this means that Shadwell has got double madness and dullness. He is the prince of dullness and increase dullness in his empire of dull ideas and works of literature. Thus, Shadwell is prescribed as a false hero or pseudo-hero.

Mock – Epicial Description of Shadwell’s Coronation:               

The description of coronation  of Shadwell is mock-epic. The place and the ceremony are depicted in a mock-heroic manner. In fact, as it is said by the idiom which Dryden adapts to his own purpose it is the delightful description of time and place. The words used are big but the description is ironic. It is the ruined building  of a watch tower. Brothels have risen there. Near this building, there is theatre called “Nursery”. Here young actors are trained how to laugh and how to weep. Prostitutes feel safe at this place. Thus, the place is immoral.

         

On the occasion of the ceremony, all people are excited. There are no Persian carpets on the path. The ruined publishers are appointed as the guards and Shadwell’s publisher is the head of the guards. The throne is made of dull books of Shadwell. In the ceremony, Shadwell views that he will maintain the rule of dullness in his kingdom. Shadwell has a mug of wine in his left hand his father’s  dull book in the other. Both symbolize his dullness. The poppey  Flowers are bound around his head and they suggest his habit of taking opium. Soon a dozen of Owls fly and people shout as it is considered as a good omen. Thus, the whole description of the coronation ceremony is very mock-epic. The following lines show how the sense of the solemnity is described with equal pomp:

q “Close to the Watts which fair Augusta bind,

(The fair Augusta much to fears inclin’d)

An ancient fabric, rais’st’ inform the sight,

There stood of yore, and Barbican it hight.”

q “That nodding seem'd to consecrate his head:

Just at that point of time, if fame not lie,

On his left hand twelve reverend owls did fly.”

Mock – Heroic Imagery in the Poem:

Mac Flecknoe is full of mock-heroic imagery. In the very beginning of the poem, the poet compares low or false men with great men and we get the images which are mock-epic. Flecknoe is compared with an emperor but of Nonsense. Shadwell the low musician is compared with the great musician, Arion and the images of dolphins and small fish are striking. Then Flecknoe’s speech parodies the speechof John the Baptist. Then we have the images of the place called Barbican, the owls, the guards and of the mantle of Flecknoe. All the images are ridiculous and mock-heroic like the theme and characters of the poem.

Mock – Epical Ending: Flecknoe’s Ridiculous Advice:

The ending of the poem where there is advice of Flecknoe to his son is quite humorous and mock-epic. Flecknoe advises his son to advance in the direction of new ignorance. He would labour much but produce nothing. He would take long time for a single work. His characters and themes will be dull. He would steal material from other poets and dramatists. His tragic scenes will cause laughter and his comic scenes will send people to sleep. Flecknoe then prophecises that his son will reign over a vast land and may produce greater nonsense.

In keen iambics, but mild anagram:

Leave writing plays, and choose for thy command

Some peaceful province in acrostic land.

There thou may'st wings display and altars raise,

And torture one poor word ten thousand ways.

Or if thou would'st thy diff'rent talents suit,

Set thy own songs, and sing them to thy lute.

He said, but his last words were scarcely heard,

For Bruce and Longvil had a trap prepar'd,

And down they sent the yet declaiming bard.

Sinking he left his drugget robe behind,

Born upwards by a subterranean wind.

The mantle fell to the young prophet's part,

With double portion of his father's art.

Mock – Epic Form and Style:

In form and style, Mac Flecknoe is a kind of mock-epic or mock-heroic poem. The epic structure is used in the poem but on a small scale. It is on a small and mean subject i.e. the mockery of the literary career of a poet named Shadwell. The poem is a parody of an epic. The laughter mainly arises from the disparity between the theme which is trivial and the style which is heroic or grand. Thus, the poem has a mock-epic form and style.

Mac Flecknoe is full of mock splendor, an outrageous blending together of various shades of Christian and pagan coloring. Dryden's mocking epic became a literary landmark for its fusion of inharmonious Christian elements with utmost brilliance. The father-son relationship of Flecknoe and "Sh" is itself a good example. Throughout the poem, Dryden carefully develops the ludicrous parallel between Flecknoe's preceding his son as a dull poet and St. John, the Baptist, preceding Christ. The poem ends with inverted indexing to John the Baptist who is said to have risen to heaven having finished his moral assignments. Flecknoe, the precursor, falls through a trap door. Mac Flecknoe is full of such examples of overt parody.