Jonathan Swift's Use Of Satire

Jonathan Swift was an Irish author that lived from 1667-1745. Swift was born in Dublin, Ireland on November 30, 1667. However, just a few months before his birth, his father died, leaving Swift to grow up fatherless. He was said to have been a very sickly child, and was diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease. This worried Swift’s mother, so in order to allow her only son to receive the best upbringing possible, she handed him over to Godwin Swift, the brother of her late husband. Under the care of his uncle, Swift thrived, and at age fourteen, he commenced his undergraduate studies at Trinity College. After all his studies were complete, Swift graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. However, when Swift reached the age of twenty-one, the Glorious Revolution of 1688 forced him to relocate to England. After moving to England, he received a job working as a secretary under Sir William Temple. He worked as Temple’s assistant for ten years. Swift helped him by running political errands, and also in the researching and publishing of his memoirs and

Swift’s most used technique was satire. Satire is a literary device that is used to ridicule human vice in individuals, societies, and institutions. Satire is often used with the intent of motivating change in the subject. Swift also used parody, irony and sarcasm, all similar to satire. Most of his writings were also metaphors that made fun of human’s actions and historical events. This was demonstrated in A Modest Proposal. Swift wrote satire in many various genres, including poetry and prose. He used various forms of satire and addressed many different causes and issues. Among these causes were personal, behavioral, philosophical, political, religious, and civic issues. Swift saw many issues in his beloved country of Ireland and around the world. So, he began to write in an effort to change the things he