Jonathan Swift

Early Life and Education

Jonathan Swift was born on November 30th, 1667 in Dublin, Ireland. Swift's parents had fled England after siding with the losing Royalist side during the English Civil War (1642-1651). When Swift was seven months old, his father died, leaving the family dependent on his uncles, who paid his tuition to the prestigious Kilkenny School. Swift claims his wet nurse taught him to read using the bible.

In 1682, Swift attended Trinity College, Dublin. While the outdated curriculum used medieval courses used to teach priests, Swift was also exposed to the writings of Aristotle and learned about debate techniques, which would impact his writing career. In 1686, Swift received a B.A. by "special grace," which usually indicates a student who struggled to follow the institution's strict rules.

In 1688, Swift moved to England, where he worked as a sectary to Sir William Temple. For the next three years, he would assist with essential matters of parliament and communicate with members of the British Royal court. Swift returned to Ireland briefly in 1690 to recuperate from recurring dizzy spells. His symptoms are now considered early signs of Ménière's disease, a debilitating condition affecting hearing and balance. Swift struggled with this affliction for the rest of his life.

While working for Temple, Swift began making early efforts at prose. Between 1691-94 he anonymously published six odes. In 1692 he received an M.A. from the University of Oxford and was ordained as a priest in the Church of Ireland in January 1695. Assigned to a small rural parish in Ireland in 1695, Swift soon felt frustrated and yearned to return to be close to the seat of power in London.

Swift returned to his post as Sir William's secretary and began working on a composition called A Tale of the Tub (1704). The satirical piece uses the tale of three brothers, Peter, Martin, and Jack, to represent the relationship between the three branches of Western Christianity (Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Dissenters). Swift uses the dialogue between the brothers to satirize religion's relationship with powerful institutions like the government and monarchy. Though some people interpreted it as work supporting Anglican rationality, others, including the Queen of England, viewed it as profane and dangerous.

Religion and Pamphlets

In the 17th and 18th centuries, religion dominated most aspects of life in England; art and literature were expected to contain some element of Christianity. Many of Swift's works are defenses of the Anglican Church and its prominent role in everyday life. He strongly opposed any Catholic monarchy as he viewed Catholicism as unjust and oppressive.

After receiving a Doctor of Divinity from Trinity College Dublin in 1702, Swift continued to visit England throughout the decade, establishing himself as a wit in London's social circles. With the publication of A Tale of the Tub and a series of influential works known as the "Bickerstaff" pamphlets of 1708–09, Swift's fame continued to grow.

Fig. 2 - Swift supported the Whigs but switched his allegiance to the Tory Party and became deeply involved in the party's inner workings.

During this tumultuous period, the political system in England was undergoing rapid changes. When the Tory government came to power in 1710, they asked Swift to become the editor of the party newspaper, The Examiner. Swift spent the next few years publishing pamphlets and tracts supporting Tory policies, particularly their attempt to end England's involvement in the disastrous War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714). He became a trusted member of the Party's inner circle during this time.

Seclusion and Satire

When the Whig Party returned to power in 1714, Swift fled to Ireland and spent several years recovering from his demanding political and public life. Swift emerged from seclusion in 1720, writing pamphlets on Ireland's social and political problems. With "The Drapier's Letters" (1724-25), he argued against England's unfair policy regarding currency and coins in Ireland. The work is notable for its call for Irish independence. Because this was a controversial and dangerous opinion in British society, Swift published it under the pseudonym M. B. Drapier.

Swift would draw on his political experiences to produce his most famous work Gulliver's Travels (1726). The satirical travelogue follows the adventures of a London gentleman as he visits a series of mysterious lands and encounters new civilizations. The book satirizes humans' various systems and ideologies to justify their actions.

After the success of Gulliver's Travels, Swift returned to the political situation in Ireland. His most famous pamphlet, "A Modest Proposal", a darkly satirical argument, suggested combating food shortages and poverty in Ireland by eating the children of the poor.

Later Years and Death

Swift suffered mental and physical decline throughout the 1730s as his condition worsened. Servants reported his short temper and dark moods as death became a prominent theme in many of his later works. With the poem "Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift" (1739) he was able to write his obituary. After a stroke in 1742, Swift lost his speech and mobility and was under permanent care until he died in 1745.

Jonathan Swift's Books

In Jonathan Swift's day, many of the rules and tropes of the modern novel had not yet been established. Swift's most enduring work, Gulliver's Travels helped to shape the construct of the modern novel

Gulliver's Travels (1726)

Swift's most famous work is a parody of popular travelogues and a satire on human nature. The book contains four sections documenting the voyages of Lemuel Gulliver. An unsuccessful surgeon, Gulliver abandons his practice in London to seek adventure on the seas. Throughout the books, he visits isolated, mysterious islands encountering fantastical civilizations.

Gulliver meets a race of tiny people who he judges to be small in stature and mind but then encounters a race of giants who make him feel the same way. On his journey, he meets people at the extremes; one group is exceptionally logical and cold, while the other is savage but welcoming.

Fig. 3 - Gulliver experiences ignorance and enlightenment on his journey.

Swift uses Gulliver's Travels to explore essential questions of human nature and reason. While Gulliver begins the story as optimistic and bright, his experiences and difficulties turn him into a bitter misanthrope by the story's end. The satirical book's focus is on the failings and fallibility of individuals and systems.

With Gulliver's Travels, Swift blended elements of children's fables with science to create a work that significantly influenced the development of the modern novel.

Jonathan Swift Poems

While best known for his books and essays, Swift also produced poetry throughout his career. His poetry often reflects a more personal and vulnerable look at his life rather than more prominent social and political themes. The poems are often sparse and have a quick tempo, unlike many other poets of the period.

"Stella's Birthday" (1766) was written in 1721 and is a playful and witty verse about his long-term companion, Esther Johnson. Swift was Esther's tutor at an early age, and the two developed a lifelong friendship that may have become romantic in later life. The poem jokes that although Stella claims this to be her 36th birthday, the writer knows it is her 40th. Despite age, he still loves her deeply and portrays love as something much more profound than physical beauty.

"Verses on the Death of Doctor Swift" (1739) uses poetry to satirize the weakness of himself and others. Written at around 64 years old, Swift knew the end was approaching and sought to judge his career as a satirist and human being. Written in a conversational tone, the poem seeks to challenge the reader and highlight the difference between the intention of our actions and the actual impact.

Jonathan Swift Essays and Pamphlets

Swift had a significant impact on the political discourse of his day. He ranged from writing in support of the government system and policy to being openly critical of British policy in Ireland later in his career.

"The Drapier's Letters" (1724-1725)

This political tract railed against British mismanagement of currency in Ireland. While England and Scotland had established mints that forged their coins of equal values, Ireland was not permitted its own. Currency production in Ireland was awarded to private contractors who often did not fulfill their duty. When it was produced, the coins were made with cheap materials and did not hold the same value as English currency, which put Ireland at a tremendous economic disadvantage.

In the letters, Swift employs rhetoric and satire to point out England's unfair treatment and the political ramifications of such injustice. Each letter focused on a different audience, from business owners and individual politicians to the entire population of Ireland. They swiftly and eloquently outlined the impact of the laws and offered solutions. The letters were considered treasonous in English society, but Swift was embraced as an early hero of Irish nationalism.

"A Modest Proposal" (1729)

Under British rule, Ireland suffered from mismanagement and discrimination as the island's primarily Catholic population was limited. This system resulted in food shortages and poverty. In "A Modest Proposal," Swift uses satire to present a solution to this problem. Since the poor and malnourished population burdens public taxes, the best way for them to be profitable and valuable is as a food source.

Fig. 4 - The work's title is satirical, which takes a problem to its illogical extreme.

To this absurd proposal, Swift applies coldly logical measures. By employing these cannibalistic measures, he argues that population control would reduce poverty and crime and improve the overall health of the Kingdom. He even provides possible recipes and serving suggestions for his readers and a pricing system based on the weight and quality of the meat.

In "A Modest Proposal," Swift uses absurdity to satirize the bigoted British policy of the day. Since official law viewed Irish Catholics as less than human, Swift took this discrimination to its extreme to highlight the dehumanizing attitudes prevalent in British society at the time.

Jonathan Swift Quotes

Known for his ability to highlight critical social issues using satire and parody, Swift's work argued for a better understanding of power and the flaws of humanity.

Swift liked to point out the inconsistencies of human beings. While many people build their identity around a set of core beliefs and never challenge them, Swift had his own personal political and religious epiphanies during his life. Growing up as a member of the Anglo-Irish class, Swift embraced the cause of oppressed Irish Catholics by the end of his life.

Swift often questioned the authority of government and monarchy through his writings. This extract from "The Drapier's Letters" argued for the side of the masses against the small controlling classes. The "one single man in his shirt" represents the poor and dispossessed being unjustly repressed by a tyrannical government.

In Swift's most famous essay, he satirically argues that the cure for poverty is eating the poor! Using dark humor, Swift challenged the socially accepted views on oppressed groups and economic policy. As well as using logical economic theories to further his argument, Swift provided the reader with seasonal recipes and preparation methods.