Jonathan Swift will be remembered for introducing satire in English prose writing for the first time. He the mastered two unique satiric styles, namely the Juvenalian and the Horatian styles.
Personal and Career Profiles of Jonathan Swift
Son of Jonathan Swift and Abigail Erick, Jonathan Swift was born on November 30, 1667. After completing his school, Swift attended the Trinity College of Dublin University for his graduation. His post-graduation was hampered due to the Glorious Revolution in England, which compelled him to leave studies and join service as a personal assistant and secretary. In spite of all interruptions, Swift acquired the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from Trinity College in Dublin, in the 1700s.
Literary Career of Jonathan Swift
The literary career of Swift started in the 1700s, with the publication of a series of some of his best prose works, like "A Tale of a Tub" and "The Battle of the Books". Both these novels made him very popular. However, "Gulliver's Travel" is considered to be the masterpiece of Swift, a fiction popular till date, among readers of all ages. "Gulliver's Travel" analyzes and ridicules the human nature in a sophisticated manner, based on Swift's experiences of the age. The book offers the reader a satirical insight into the condition of the then European government, as well as the trivial disparities existing among different religious communities. All through the narration, Swift tried to explore the corruption prevalent in human nature. In fact, the novel interprets the perpetual controversy
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existing between the ancient and the contemporary set of thoughts and ideas. The "Battle of the Books" is yet another satirical prose work of Swift. The main theme of this brief satire is highly imaginative, portraying a literal war between the library books of the King, where the authors and the themes struggle to gain prominence over each other. Through this battle, Swift brings out the perpetual struggle existing between the 'ancient' and the 'modern'.
"A Tale of a Tub" was the first principal work of Jonathan Swift, composed towards the end of the 17th century. A satirical parody in prose, "A Tale of a Tub" constantly mocks at the religious extremities prevalent in the then society. Set in the backdrop of the Restoration Period in England, the readers discover Swift disguised as a naive and thrilled person, who is fond of everything that is modern and full of technological advances.
Works of Jonathan Swift
Some of the best compositions of Jonathan Swift are :
- Gulliver's Travels
- The Battle of the Books
- A Tale of a Tub
- The Poems of Jonathan Swift
- Three Sermons and Prayers
- The Journal to Stella
- A Modest Proposal
- Writings on Religion and the Church, Volume I
- Short Stories
The death Jonathan Swift on October 19, 1745, was an irreplaceable loss to English literature.
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