John Dryden's Mac Flecknoe is one of the finest satires in the English language. It was Neo-classical period in English literature and Dryden, along with another brilliant satirist Alexander Pope, was the poet who dominated the literary scene. Satire was the most popular form of poetry and both Dryden and Pope were great masters of this poetic genre.
Mac Flecknoe is the product of a literary and personal rivalry.
The poem was Drden's reply to Thomas Shadwell's poem: The Medal of John
Bayes which in turn was a criticism of Dryden's earlier poem, The
Medal. Shadwell's poem was an unfair and indecent attack. This
provoked Dryden and he brought in Mac Flecknoe that silenced his
adversary.
Dryden's satirical genius is fully revealed in the poem. It is a satire
on Thomas Shadwell who was once a friend of Dryden. The
poem is primarily Dryden's reply to Shadwell. Thus it is personal in
nature. But Dryden deliberately makes him a model of poetasters and a
symbol of bad writing. There are many references to good poets of the
time. Jonson, Flectcher, Etherage and Dekker from many of whom Shadwell,
is accused of having stolen material. Shadwell has limited some of
them. But according to Drydon, it does no good to the prince of dullness.
Shadwell's plays are criticised. He invents his own humours for his plays. Shadwell's poetic genius is such that he
cannot compose a good play or write good poetry. It is full of venom but
can't compose even a good satire. So Dryden advises him.
Thy Genius calls thee not to purchase fame
In keen iambics, but mild Anagram
Leave writing plays, and choose for thy command
Some peaceful Province in Acrostic land
This
is piece of sound advice not only to Shadwell but all bad poets.
This is that boasted bias of thy mind
By which one way to dullness 'tis inclined
Which makes thy writings lean on one side still.
Shadwell can write neither tragedy or
comedy. Dryden ridicules,
Thy tragic muse gives smiles, thy comic sleep.
Thus Dryden's poem Mac Flecknoe becomes a satire not only on Shadwell
but on all bad writers and bad writings as well.