Final answer:
Dryden satirizes the reading public for their poor literary taste in elevating bad writers, examining the broader issue of who should judge the quality of literature and how societal tendencies affect such judgments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Through his satirical poem, Dryden critiques the reading public's adoration of poets such as Flecknoe and Shadwell who preside over the 'realms of Non-sense.' By suggesting that bad writers are celebrated rulers despite their lack of wit, Dryden highlights the folly within the reading public and indirectly questions their literary taste. This criticism is a commentary not just on the writers but also on a society that elevates what he perceives as substandard literature.
The debate over what constitutes good literature or bad literature and who has the authority to judge it has been an ongoing conversation throughout history. Figures like Sir Philip Sydney vehemently defended the imaginative realm of poetry against those who questioned its purpose, labelling such critics as 'memes' or fools. Moving into the Restoration period and beyond, the focus on literature's quality vs. popularity has shifted, as seen in Orwell's query about the readability of 'bad' literature and the merit of sentimentalism in Restoration plays. Dryden's satirical work implies that literature should not only entertain but also possess a certain intellectual and aesthetic quality that he finds lacking in the works of poets like Shadwell.