Biography of Jonathan Swift, works, quotes

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

Birth of a writer

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

In 1682 he entered Trinity College, which he graduated with a bachelor's degree. During the overthrow of King James II in Ireland, a civil war broke out. Swift went to England to a distant relative of his mother William Temple and served as his secretary for two years. Temple, a wealthy diplomat, takes a very 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

Biography of Jonathan Swift as an author is born with the publication in 1704 of two works: "The Tale of the Barrel" and the parable "The Battle of Books," as well as poems and poems. From 1705 he served for several years in the parish of Laracor (Ireland), and in 1713 Swift obtained the seat of dean in St. Patrick's Cathedral. This position gives a good income and an opportunity for writing and social activities.

In 1724, under a pseudonym, he issued "Letters of the Cuckoo". In 1726, Gulliver's Travels were published in 2 volumes. In 1742, Swift suffered a severe stroke, which resulted in loss of speech and partly mental ability. On the eve of his death he writes an epitaph on the grave, which at will, expressed in the will, was stamped on it: "Severe indignation subsided already in his chest. Go, traveler, and imitate the one who always fought for freedom. "

Creativity Swift

Jonathan Swift, whose works were written at the turn of the change of literary style, managed to grasp not only the mood of revolutionary Ireland, but also the dissatisfaction of his compatriots with English political tyranny. Allegiance has already gone, but stiffness and slickness have not become fashionable. It was in this era that the satirical language of the author, his exposure of vices and foolishness in the name of good and justice, common sense, found the way to the hearts of readers. Humor and satire are the shortest paths for success at all times.

The ideas of Jonathan Swift, expressed in the "Gulliver's Travel", are relevant for today. Political strife and intrigue look ridiculous in the Land of the Lilliputians, where miniature people are fighting for power. From the height of his growth, Gulliver sees how the chalks of passion and the desire for profit. 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 learned minds who have achieved immortality by rewriting the history of the world for themselves. The last country where Gulliver acquainted with the race of intelligent horses and the people of servants yehu. The ugly image of animal-like people is proof of Swift's idea that if passions and vices dominate man more than reason, he can turn into an animal.

The personal life of Jonathan Swift

At the estate of his patron Tempter Jonathan met the charming girl Esther Johnson, who at the time was 8 years old. The daughter of a servant, she was brought up without a father, and the great writer becomes a friend, and also a direct teacher and interlocutor. In his letters he calls her Stella. Esther-Stella after the death of her mother settled on the rights of a pupil in the estate of Jonathan. Friends of the writer's contemporaries claim that they secretly married, but there was no direct evidence of this and documents.

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

Political activity

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

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

Interesting Facts

Biography of Jonathan Swift reveals several facts about his life that characterize the writer as a man of the highest degree witty and bold.

• Struggling with 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 graves. In case of refusal and indifferent attitude, he promised to add to the inscriptions the words about the ingratitude of relatives. One of these messages was delivered to George II personally. But since no action on the part of the king was followed, an inscription about the monarch's stinginess on the stove appeared.
• The traveler Jonathan loved to tell an anecdote about one 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.
• Once, going for a walk, he asked the servant to give his boots. The young man, not having had time to clean it, brought Swift the dirty shoes with the words: "You will still mess them up." Jonathan ordered not to feed breakfast to the "resourceful" poor fellow, since he would still be hungry.

Wisdom in every word

He was not a stupid man, Jonathan Swift. Quotations of him and sayings from life have survived to this day:

• Anger is revenge on yourself for another.
• The best healers in the world are peace, diet and cheerful disposition.
• Slander is a blow to worthy people, just like worms love only healthy fruits.
• If you're joking about someone, then be prepared to take the reciprocal urgency with patience.
• You can hate the author, but read his book with pleasure.
• Of the pig skin of a gold purse you can not sew.
• The sage least feels loneliness, being alone.
• Happiness in marriage is due to each unspoken, but understood by the wife word.

The words of Jonathan Swift about justice and slavery are an acute satirical hairpin in the direction of 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.
• In heaven there is no gold, so they give it to the villains on earth.
• Religion is a terrible disease of a pure soul.

Legacy of Swift

Jonathan Swift has left the work, which, even with a hard editorship, does not lose its satirical mood in politics and human imperfection. This is the real legacy of the great writer. Already during his lifetime, the famous "Gulliver" was published in several languages. Adapted children's publications were so processed by censors that they became like a funny fairy tale in the genre of fantasy. But even in such a shortened version of his books are taught that we are all different, but still people.

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