Jonathan Swift, Satirist and Fantasist

For many of us, the first time we read “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift, we are either disgusted or quizzical about the nature of the text. After the text is explored, we then begin to find it funny or amusing. At the time the essay was released, the satire flew over some aristocratic heads and other were disgusted by its implications. However, Swift, an expert satirist, probably had no qualms about the reactions because that was his intention.

A Swiftian Biography

Early Life

Swift was born into poverty on Nov. 30 in Dublin, Ireland. Swift’s father, also named Jonathan, died before Swift was born. Accordingly, Swift and his family were impoverished. Similarly, Swift was sick often as a child, perhaps due to malnutrition and Meniere’s disease. With that said, he was raised by his uncle Godwin Swift who supplied a young Jonathan with an education and support. Swift attended Kilkenny College with fellow future author William Congreve, and then Trinity College Dublin in 1682. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1686 even after having numerous disciplinary issues. Then, he left for England during the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

William Temple

In England, Swift worked as a secretary for Sir William Temple. Temple, a retired diplomat and writer, gave Swift the avenue to meet numerous political elites. Temple had negotiated the Triple Alliance and was an important figure in political circles. He also helped swift enter Oxford University where the young writer graduated. Meanwhile, Swift continued to suffer from health troubles, with bouts of dizziness. It cannot be understated that Temple’s impact on Swift was magnanimous. In fact, Swift’s later political writing have a lot to lend to Temple’s education and guidance.

Further Writings and Literary Friends

Swift was later appointed as Chaplin to Lord Berkely, and he became a Doctor of Divinity. He wrote The Battle of the Books and a humorous religious piece titled A Tale of the Tub. Swift was prolific at this time and also formed some literary alliances as well. These included alliances included the group Scriblerus with Alexander Pope.

Parallel to this, Swift wrote Gulliver’s Travels (1724) under the pen name Lemuel Gulliver in 1726. Afterward, he wrote “A Modest Proposal,” which was an essay that suggested the Irish could sell their children as food to the wealthy, due to the impoverished state of the lower class. Overall, Swift’s contribution to Neoclassical Literature helped pave the way for future satirists.

Conclusion and Impact

Swift worked throughout his life in politics and through the church to bring attention to the plight of Ireland. He fought tirelessly to bring attention to the poverty and squalor of the lower classes. Whether through his essays, like “A Modest Proposal,” or through his novels, like Gulliver’s Travels, Swift made a fantastic impact on literary history. Swift died away in 1745.

Notable Works

• A Tale of a Tub (1704)
• The Battle of the Books (1704)
• Gulliver’s Travels (1726)
• The Drapier’s Letters (1724)