Charles Sackville's 'My Opinion': Restoration Political Satire

This analysis delves into Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset's poem, "My Opinion," penned around 1681. The poem offers a sharp commentary on the tumultuous succession conflict that marked the final years of Charles II's reign in England.

Historical Context: Charles II and the Restoration Era

Charles II's Reign and Early Restoration

Charles II reigned in England from 1661 to 1685. His early life included a period of exile when England was a republic under Cromwell's regime, the Commonwealth, following the execution of Charles I at the end of the English Civil War. This restrictive regime led to widespread discontent. In 1659, soon after Cromwell's death, the English people compelled his son and successor, Richard, to abdicate and recalled Charles II from exile, inaugurating the Restoration of the monarchy.

The Act of Indemnity and Oblivion was passed in 1660, aiming for national reconciliation. The early Restoration period enjoyed significant economic success and prosperity—driven by commercial activity regulated by the Navigation Act—and a vibrant cultural revitalization after Cromwell's austere rule.

Religious and Political Tensions

Despite the initial prosperity, the era was fraught with conflicts. Charles II was secretly Catholic in a predominantly Protestant country. He often favored Catholics, for example, through the Act of Indulgence in 1673, which expressed toleration for non-Anglican practices. In response, Parliament passed the Test Act, restricting high social positions to those who openly declared Anglican faith.

Amidst this tension between Catholics and Anglicans, a plague spread through London in 1665, followed by the Great Fire of London the next year. These catastrophic events were widely interpreted as divine punishment and were often blamed on Catholics as part of a parliamentary campaign to discredit them.

The Succession Crisis and Political Factions

Charles II had numerous illegitimate children, as he kept various mistresses, but his marriage to the Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza was barren. This created a critical succession dilemma:

• His openly Catholic brother, James, Duke of York, was the legitimate heir to the throne.
• His illegitimate son, James, Duke of Monmouth, emerged as a Protestant alternative.

During the Exclusion Bill Crisis (1678–1681), a group of politicians known as the Petitioners proposed removing the Duke of York from the line of succession. This proposal was vehemently rejected by the Abhorrers. The Popish Plot, a fictitious conspiracy orchestrated by the Petitioners, further aggravated England's anti-Catholic sentiment.

Later, the Petitioners would be known as Whigs, and the Abhorrers would become Tories, forming the conservative, royalist party. These nascent political factions, Whigs and Tories, are explicitly mentioned in the poem's first verse.

'My Opinion': Sackville's Political Commentary

In "My Opinion," Charles Sackville, the Earl of Dorset, reflects on the turbulent political situation of his time and boldly expresses his viewpoint. Summarizing his stance in verse 2 (“the long and the short of the story”), he declares support for neither group, finding the actions of both Whigs and Tories dishonorable.

Even in this first quatrain, Sackville's skepticism about the political context is evident; he shows no respect, insulting both sides of the conflict (verse 3: “they are all fools and knaves”). This critical and cynical stance is characteristic of libertine literature, a genre often marked by its satirical and irreverent approach to societal norms and political machinations.