Dryden’s Mac Flecknoe: Satirical Attack On Literary Mediocrity
Mac Flecknoe, a satirical poem by John Dryden, savagely mocks the playwright Thomas Shadwell, portraying him as the heir to the “dull empire” of Richard Flecknoe, an obscure poet. Dryden’s wit and mockery target Shadwell’s perceived mediocrity and lack of literary talent, while also taking aim at the general decline of the literary scene. Samuel Pepys and Edmund Waller are among those who figure as witnesses or participants in this poetic attack, providing insights into the literary landscape of the Restoration era and Dryden’s influential role in shaping its contours.
