One of the key features of Dryden’s famous poem, Mac Flecknoe, is that it skewers two contemporary poets –Richard Flecknoe and Thomas Shadwell. Thus, a bit of background about these poets will greatly enhance our understanding of the poem.
Richard Flecknoe was a poet, dramatist, and traveler. An Irishman and a Jesuit, he was born around 1600. He apparently lived in England and was a priest for some time, although at some point stopped identifying himself as such. Most of what we know about him comes from his own work, Relation of Ten Years’ Travels in Europe, Asia, Affrique, and Americas (1654?). His major works include Epigrams of all sorts (1670), Enigmatical characters (1658), The Idea of his Highness Oliver, Late Lord Protector (1659), and Short Treatise of the English Stage (1664).
Flecknoe died in 1678, and it was not long after that John Dryden mocked him in his famous poem Mac Flecknoe. Andrew Marvell also skewered him, particularly his asceticism and inferior verses, in “Flecknoe, an English Priest at Rome.”
As for Thomas Shadwell, today he is, fair or not, best remembered as the target of Dryden’s satire. He was born around 1642 in Norfolk, England and was educated at Caius College, Cambridge, and at Middle Temple, London. He became a court wit and a playwright, eventually penning 18 plays. These included The Sullen Lovers (1668) (a satire on Sir Robert Howard and his brother), The Royal Shepherdess (1669), Psyche (1674-75), and The Libertine (1765). He also translated Juvenal.
The tensions with Dryden began with the political crisis of 1678-79. Shadwell affiliated himself with the Whigs and wrote a play called The Lancashire Witches, which attacked the Anglican clergy. Dryden responded with Absalom and Achitophel and Mac Flecknoe.
Shadwell succeeded Dryden as poet laureate and continued to emulate Ben Jonson and his comedy of humors. His most successful work was Epsom-Wells (1672).
Shadwell married Anne Gibbs, an actress, and had five children. He suffered from gout and began taking opium, of which he died on November 19th, 1692. He is buried at St. Luke’s Church, London, and has a marble bust at Poets’ Corner, Westminster Abbey. According to the Abbey’s official records, there was initially an inscription written for the monument by the poet’s son John, but it was suppressed by the Dean of Westminster because some of the clergy saw it as “being ‘too great an Encomium upon Plays to be set up in a Church." But it was printed in J.Crull's guide to the Abbey of 1722 and can be translated as "Sacred to the pious memory of Thomas Shadwell, Gent., born of an ancient family in the county of Staffordshire who, amongst other gifts of learning, felicitously applied his mind to writing. This talent set before him (the task of) composing poetry, so that the popular poems that he wrote both lacked absurdities and also corrected dissolute habits, in such a way that they gave pleasure and profit at the same time. He reckoned it a greater glory to be considered a good citizen, than to be numbered among the chief of poets. Hence, during the reign of William III he gained and adorned the titles of Poet Laureate and Historiographer to the King. He died 19th November aged 52.”
