Charles II and the Restoration: Poetry, Politics, and Power

Poetic Symbolism in the Restoration

Cannons and fireworks are described appearing in the sky and on earth, evoking thunder and lightning (verse 14). The final verses reference the biblical episode of God parting the waters for the Israelites: “So Israel passed through the divided flood...” (verse 15). This imagery mirrors how the King “divided the flood,” calming and renovating the storm surrounding the solemn moment of the Coronation.

The poem utilizes prosody, the specialized language of poetry, featuring rhyming couplets where every verse has a counterpart—such as verses 3 and 4 (“... dim / ... him”) or verses 7 and 8 (“... fear’d / ... appear’d”). This organization expresses balance and proportion, symbolizing the perfection of Charles II’s reign, which restored harmony after a turbulent period. This structured language reflects the expectations of the English people during the Restoration.

The Reality of the Merry Monarch

Despite the poetic ideal, Charles II’s reign was far from balanced. Known as the “Merry Monarch,” he embodied the new libertine lifestyle that emerged in England as a reaction to the strictures of Oliver Cromwell’s Puritan regime. The King favored:

• Sports and horse racing
• Gambling
• Dogs
• Music and theatre

Sexual and moral attitudes shifted dramatically. The King’s excesses included maintaining several mistresses, despite his marriage to the Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza. This era of liberality also saw the emergence of female artists, such as the poem's author, Katherine Philips.

Political and Religious Tension

Charles II was secretly a Catholic. In 1673, he issued the Declaration of Indulgence, which granted toleration to Non-Anglican believers and ceased their persecution. This angered Parliament, which responded by passing the Test Act, mandating Anglican faith as a requirement for holding public office. This placed the King in a precarious position, as he did not personally adhere to the Act.

As part of a campaign to discredit Catholics, the public blamed them for two catastrophic events: the Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of London in 1666.