Jonathan Swift biography, works, quotes

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The biography of Jonathan Swift is the story of an Irish writer who worked in a satirical genre, ridiculing the vices of society. "The Adventures of Gulliver" is the most favorite book among many readers, in which both an adult and a child will find an opportunity for philosophical discovery.

The birth of a writer

The biography of Jonathan Swift begins in Ireland, in the city of Dublin, November 30, 1667. The father died before the birth of his son, the petty official did not leave the family a livelihood. The boy was taken in by his uncle Godwin. The sister stayed with her mother, Jonathan hardly saw his relatives.

In 1682 he entered Trinity College, from which he graduated with a bachelor's degree. During the overthrow of King James II, a civil war broke out in Ireland. Swift went to England to a distant relative of his mother, William Temple, and served as his secretary for two years. Temple, a we althy diplomat, takes an active part in the fate of Jonathan. It is he who reveals the literary abilities of a young writer and helps to find a good job.

Publications

The biography of Jonathan Swift as an author was born with the publication in 1704 of two works: "The Tale of the Barrel" and the parable "The Battle of the Books", as well as poems and poems. From 1705 he served for several years in the parish of Laracore (Ireland), and in 1713 Swift received a deanship at St. Patrick's Cathedral. This position provides a good income and the opportunity for writing and social work.

In 1724, under a pseudonym, he publishes "The Clothmaker's Letters". In 1726 Gulliver's Travels was published in 2 volumes. In 1742, Swift suffers a severe stroke, as a result of which he loses his speech and partially mental abilities. On the eve of his death, he writes an epitaph on the grave, which, at the request expressed in the will, was carved on it: “Severe indignation has already subsided in his chest. Go, traveler, and imitate the one who has always fought for freedom.”

Swift's Creativity

Jonathan Swift, whose works were written at the turn of a change in literary style, managed to capture not only the mood of revolutionary Ireland, but also the dissatisfaction of his compatriots with English political tyranny. Allegory has already gone, but stiffness and sleekness have not come into fashion. It was during this era that the author's satirical language, his denunciation of vices and stupidity in the name of goodness and justice, common sense found their way to the hearts of readers. Humor and satire are the shortest paths to success at all times.

Jonathan Swift's ideas expressed in Gulliver's Travels are still relevant today. Political strife and intriguelook funny in the Land of the Lilliputians, where miniature people are fighting for power. From the height of his growth, Gulliver sees how small passions and desire for profit are. In the Land of Giants, on the contrary, the glory and greatness of his country look ridiculous. On the flying island of Laputu, the traveler meets with scientists who have achieved immortality by rewriting the history of the world for themselves. The last country where Gulliver meets a race of intelligent horses and a people of Yehu servants. The ugly image of animal-like people is proof of Swift's idea that if passions and vices dominate a person stronger than reason, then he can turn into an animal.

Jonathan Swift's personal life

In the estate of his patron Temple, Jonathan met a charming girl, Esther Johnson, who at that time was 8 years old. The daughter of a servant, she was brought up without a father, and the great writer becomes a friend, as well as a direct teacher and interlocutor. In his letters, he calls her Stella. Esther-Stella, after the death of her mother, settled as a pupil on the Jonathan estate. Friends of the writer's contemporaries claim that they secretly got married, but direct evidence of this and documents could not be found.

In 1707, he meets the 19-year-old Esther Vanomri, whom he calls Vanessa in extensive correspondence. She also grew up without the attention of her father and recklessly fell in love with an already established author. They wrote to each other until the death of Esther-Vanessa, she died of tuberculosis. The news of her death deeply shocked Jonathan.

Politicalactivities

Ireland, where Jonathan Swift was born, forever remained for him both his homeland and the place of struggle for justice. Sincerely worried about his compatriots, mired in civil war and vices, the author published articles, read sermons and published pamphlets. He fiercely advocated social justice, denounced class arrogance and religious fanaticism, fought against the oppression of the Irish.

Dean Swift's reputation was so high that in the memory of one of his friends you can read the story of the eclipse. One day, a crowd of people gathered in front of the cathedral to see a solar eclipse. The noise of idle onlookers prevented Jonathan from working, he went to the square and announced that the eclipse was cancelled. The crowd respectfully listened to the dean and dispersed.

Interesting facts

Jonathan Swift's biography reveals several facts about his life that characterize the writer as a person of supreme wit and courage.

• Fighting the neglect of the graves of his cathedral, the dean sent messages to relatives demanding to take care of the memory of their ancestors or send money for the improvement of the graves. In case of refusal and indifferent attitude, he promised to add words about the ingratitude of relatives to the inscriptions. One of these messages was delivered to George II personally. But since there was no action on the part of the king, the inscription about the stinginess of the monarch appeared on the stove.
• Traveller Jonathan loved to tell a joke about an inn. There he got only half the bed,the second he had to share with the farmer. But the writer casually mentioned that he worked as an executioner and slept alone.
• One day, going for a walk, he asked the servant to give boots. The young man, not having time to clean them, brought dirty shoes to Swift with the words: "You will stain them anyway." Jonathan ordered not to feed the "resourceful" poor man breakfast, as he would still get hungry.

Wisdom in every word

Jonathan Swift was far from being a stupid person. His quotes and sayings from life have survived to this day:

• Anger is revenge on oneself for another.
• The best doctors in the world are peace, diet and a cheerful disposition.
• Slander is a blow to worthy people, like worms love only he althy fruits.
• If you've played a prank on someone, get ready to take the joke back with patience.
• You can hate the author, but read his book with pleasure.
• You can't make a gold purse out of pigskin.
• The sage feels the least sense of loneliness when he is alone.
• Happiness in marriage is determined by every word unspoken but understood by the wife.

Jonathan Swift's words about justice and slavery are a sharp satirical hairpin towards the politics of his country and the rotten clergy:

• If the government decided to rule without the consent of the people, this is already a slave system.
• There is no gold in heaven, so it is given to rascals on earth.
• Religion is a terrible disease of a pure soul.

Swift's legacy

Jonathan Swift left works that, even with tough editing, do not lose their satirical mood in the field of politics and human imperfection. This is the real legacy of the great writer. Already during his lifetime, his famous "Gulliver" was published in several languages. The adapted children's editions were so processed by the censors that they became like a fun fairy tale in the fantasy genre. But even in this shortened version, his books teach that we are all different, but still people.

Compatriots are proud of the talent and mind of the great author. Jonathan Swift (country of birth and creativity - Ireland) left after his death a belief in a bright and just future.