Jonathan Swift Group at eNotes

While Oliver Goldsmith and Jonathan Swift were both satirists, they...

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:41:49 PST

While Oliver Goldsmith and Jonathan Swift were both satirists, they targeted different aspects of society in their works. Goldsmith, like Swift, mocks the society of his day, but his depiction of characters hinges on their representing types of people. They do not appear to the reader to be individuals in their own right - a method other writers such as Moliere uses. As such, much of Goldsmith's satirical focus is on society as a...

In “A Modest Proposal,” virtually every line of the entire text...

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:55:38 PST

In “A Modest Proposal,” virtually every line of the entire text of the pamphlet is famous. One of the more interesting quotes is “I HAVE been assured by a very knowing American of my Acquaintance in London; that a young healthy Child, well nursed, is, at a Year old, a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome Food; whether Stewed, Roasted, Baked, or Boiled; and, I make no doubt, that it will equally serve in a Fricasie, or Ragoust.”...

The question of whether or not Swift was a misanthrope essentially...

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:37:37 PST

The question of whether or not Swift was a misanthrope essentially relates to the question of his attitude toward humanity in his satirical works. The title of misanthrope is reserved usually for someone who hates or distrusts humanity. Much of Swift’s satirical work exhibit neither hatred nor distrust. Swift, however, clearly finds humanity flawed. Those flaws, particularly the pride of humanity, serve as the meat of his work. In “A...

Grammardog Guide to Gulliver's Travels

They are both satyrists of social issues which they wrote in their...

Mon, 18 May 2009 14:22:37 PST

They are both satyrists of social issues which they wrote in their stories as mockery of the snobbery, hypocrisy and falsehood of the upper classes, especially those who are "in charge" of society. Goldsmith has personified characters with characteristics that you would think are meant to evoke respect and love for the character only to find out that he was mocking the character and evoking laughter in the reader. Swift does the same in...

How does the social criticism of Oliver Goldsmith compare to that of...

Mon, 18 May 2009 12:06:09 PST

How does the social criticism of Oliver Goldsmith compare to that of Jonathan Swift?

In "A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms", Swift expresses through...

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:47:21 PST

In "A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms", Swift expresses through Gulliver that he deeply detests the human race. In fact, Swift himself was once quoted as saying that of all animals in this earth the one he likes least is the animal called "man." Each of the stories in Gulliver's Travels depict the lowest aspects of human nature, from how we think, to how we look. It is an instant slap in the face of pride, and even though the story...

Discuss the view that Swift was a misanthrope.

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:46:45 PST

Discuss the view that Swift was a misanthrope.

Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist who is famous for many quotations...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:33:06 PST

Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist who is famous for many quotations and works. One of his most famous quotes may be, "A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter." This quote is from "A Modest Proposal" a satire about eating...

What is the most famous quotation in Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal"?

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:58:42 PST

What is the most famous quotation in Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal"?

Swift's modest proposal was satirical and therefore not to be taken at...

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:10:49 PST

Swift's modest proposal was satirical and therefore not to be taken at face value. "A Modest Proposal" grows out of Swift's furious indignation, his disgust with English oppression and Irish corruption and stupidity. Swift creates a character the "projector," who analyzes conditions rather than assigning blame for them. The projector's voice is calm and rational when he suggest poor babies be used as flesh for the...

Swift's proposer (an economist) suggests that Ireland could solve its...

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:21:26 PST

Swift's proposer (an economist) suggests that Ireland could solve its poverty and overpopulation problems if its poor people would rear children, kill them, and sell them as food. This satirical work shows Swift's sympathy for Ireland’s poor, oppressed Catholic population, as well as his anger toward wealthy Irish landowners and absentee English landlords, who were gouging Irish peasants with outrageously high land rents. (Note the...

Satire, Swift, and "A Modest Proposal"

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:21:14 PST

One very famous pamphlet Jonathan Swift wrote was A Modest Proposal. What did he suggest in that satrical work and why did he advocate such a drastic practice?