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Note on Jonathan swift
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Traveling around the world can open your eyes to many new discoveries. Jonathan Swift was a well-known author during the 1600 and 1700’s. Many of Swift’s pieces were based on his experiences during his travels. “For most general readers, the name Jonathan Swift is associated only with his satiric masterpiece Gulliver's Travels. They are not aware that, in addition to it and hundreds of poems, he wrote a great deal of nonfictional prose, much of it of considerable interest, significance, and excellence” (Schakel).
As a child, “Swift grew up fatherless and dependent on the generosity of his uncle” (“Jonathan Swift”). Jonathan was born in 1667 in Dublin, Ireland. According to “The Early Life and Education of Jonathan Swift” his father died in 1667 before Jonathan was born. Jonathan’s mother felt very strongly about her son’s education. “At the age of six he was sent to Kilkenny School, then the best in Ireland” (“Jonathan Swift”). “Swift continued in residence at Trinity College as a candidate for his masters of arts degree until February 1689. The Roman Catholic disorders began to spread through Dublin after the Glorious Revolution, causing Swift to seek security in England with a distant relative named Sir William Temple, at Moor Park.” (“Jonathan Swift”). As stated in “Jonathan Swift” Temple was engaged in writing memoirs and preparing essays for publication, and Swift acted as his secretary. Swift gained much knowledge while he was with Temple by reading many books from Temple’s vast library. This is when Jonathan really became interested in writing. “Between 1691 and 1694 Swift wrote a number of poems and between 1696 and 1699 he turned to prose and wrote some of his most famous works such as A Tale of a Tub” (“Jonathan ...
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...an Swift Biography”)
“The closing years of Swift’s life have been the subject of some misrepresentation, and stories have been told of his ungovernable temper and lack of self-control” (“Jonathan Swift”). Jonathan Swift lived a long 78 years, he died on October 19, 1745. “He is said to have suffered what is known to have been Meniere’s Disease, an affliction of the semicircular canals of the ears” (“Jonathan Swift”). In 1742 he was declared incapable of caring for himself, and guardians were appointed, according to the article “Jonathan Swift”. “Later that year (1742) he suffered from a stroke and lost the ability to speak” (“Jonathan Swift Biography”). In 1745, Swift was “laid to rest next to Esther Johnson inside of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral” (“Jonathan Swift Biography”). After living his long life Swift said “No wise man ever wished to be younger.”
Swift wants his readers to interpret his speaker as a kindhearted, sensible gentleman with a sincere concern for resolving problems for the Irish people. In the first eight paragraphs, the reader meets an affectionate man with precise insight into the predicament he will shortly address. By doing this, the speaker establishes himself up as someone who would not make an outrageous proposition. This makes his words even more effective.
Because Swift constructs a speaker who is meant to be seen as himself in “Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift, D.S.P.D.”, his approach to the satire changes, taking on a more playful approach. The poem is more personal than political, and is more comedic in the sense that he satirizing himself as well as other people groups. The self-defeating rhetorical approach is embodied in this poem in the way that he puts himself down and exposes his own follies throughout the poem. While this is no doubt somewhat tongue-in-cheek, this in some ways frees Swift from criticism from outside sources. It is difficult to wager criticism at someone who has already wagered it against himself. While this could also be seen as poking fun at other writers who are self-deprecating, this self-defeating narration is used mostly comically in “Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift, D.S.P.D.”. In spite of this, it does effectively build a narrator who is well defended in the sense that he cannot easily be criticized from outside sources.
humans and the society which Swift lived in at the time. It is in Book
One of the other voices that is present throughout the entire story is that of sarcasm. In order to understand this further, a reader has to comprehend that Swift, becoming infamous after Gullivers Travels, was a member of the upper-class. Right from the first paragraph Swift attempts to fool his readers by the sarcasm of the dreary scene that Swift presents. For example, he mentions that it is a melancholy sight to see beggars and their children on the street. The sarcastic paradox in this statement is whether it is a melancholy object for him, having to see homeless people every day, or for the beggars lifestyle? Upon first reading this one may be led to believe that Swift is a compassionate writer attempting to feel the pain of the beggars. But as the story continues, a reader can look back and note that he is using a sarcastic tone and the only sad sight that he sees is the fact that people of his status have to deal with commoners.
All four books of Gulliver’s Travels form a rapid descent into the dark nature of man. Swift is satirizing the elements that make men human, from small pettiness to corruptness and greed. When a sane man such as Gulliver is exposed to the different aspects of human immorality, Swift
...ture the attention of the audience by means of “political pamphleteering which is very popular during his time” (SparkNotes Editors). The language and style of his argument is probably why it is still popular till this day. By using satire, Swift makes his point by ridiculing the English people, the Irish politicians, and the wealthy. He starts his proposal by using emotional appeal and as it progresses, he uses ethos to demonstrate credibility and competence. To show the logical side of the proposal, he uses facts and figures. By applying these rhetorical appeals, Swift evidently makes his argument more effectual.
Jonathan Swift is a well-known author and satirist who graduated from Oxford University in England. He is very educ...
Rodino, Richard H. "The Study of Gulliver's Travels, Past and Present." Critical Approaches to Teaching Swift. New York: AMS Press, 1992.
Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver’s Travels. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol C. 9th ed. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York: W. W. Norton, 2012. 2492-2633. Print.
Although Jonathan Swift and Oliver Goldsmith have two distinct writing styles, their passion for literature, their desire for a better world, and the underlying topic of their work are all strikingly similar. The lives of these two famous authors also resemble each other’s, starting in poverty, living through life’s hardships, and ending in success. Swift and Goldsmith were two of the most famous authors of the 18th century. I believe if Swift and Goldsmith had met, they would have made great friends. For the reason that, along with their passions, their lives were bursting with challenges. Both were born in poverty and underwent numerous challenges, including the death of loved ones and the loss of purpose in life. In addition, Jonathan Swift
One of the most compelling characteristics of Swift's writing is his mysterious characters, he only describes people at the most important and relevant part of their lives and the rest is left to the readers imagination. He also surprises the reader by withholding vital information about a character for a couple chapters than suddenly revealing it thus changing the reader's perspective completely. This permits him to build up formidably complex minds in very short periods of time as he only describes what is striking and always brings new dimensions to old characters thus he shows what Mary was like when she was a "little Madonna" and abruptly changes our whole perspective of her when we learn of her adventures thus shedding the first layer of mystery and giving the reader something new to reflect on. Swift also for some of the characters gives us information at the very the beginning of "Waterland" and it takes the whole novel for us to learn how that person died (in the case of Dick) or became insane (in the case of Mary).
The Writings of Jonathan Swift; Authoritative Texts, Backgrounds, Criticism. edited by Robert A. Greenberg and William Bowman Piper. Norton Critical Editions. New York: Norton, 1973.
Jonathan Swift was born on November 30, 1667 in Dublin, Ireland. With the absence of his father, Jonathan Swift passed away shortly after the birth of his son, his mother Abigail Erick struggled to care for Swift. Unfortunately Swift suffered from Meniere’s disease, a condition
Smith, Nicole. "A Realistic Utopia in Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swifts." Article Myriad. N.p., 6 Dec. 2011. Web. 6 May 2014. .
Reading is a stimulating and relaxing activity that is cherished by people of all ages and cultures. As the satirist of many captivating works for teenagers and adults, the literature of Jonathan Swift helps to incite deep thinking, awareness and entertainment among his avid readers. Jonathan Swift was a praised author of satires, which use irony, sarcasm and ridicule to expose and denounce evil or wrongdoing. For example, Gulliver’s Travels, was one of Swift’s most beloved, successful and enjoyed satires of his writing career. Relationships among people of all ages and personalities within a country split by political factions encouraged Jonathan Swift in his career of writing immensely well-known satires.