Concetti Chiave
- In 1688, Swift was appointed as secretary to Sir William Temple in England, connecting him with aristocratic and political circles.
- After being ordained an Anglican priest in Ireland, Swift returned to work with Temple until Temple's death, subsequently facing employment challenges.
- Swift's "Tale of a Tub" (1704) is a notable satirical pamphlet criticizing the Church and modern learning.
- Appointed Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral in 1713, Swift opposed English exploitation of Ireland, writing works like "Drapier’s Letters" that incited national protest.
- His "Modest Proposal" (1729) famously criticized British injustices toward the Irish, marking a significant moment in satirical literature.
Early career and connections
The foremost prose satirist in the English language, In 1688 the writer travelled to England. Here he was ppointed secretary to Sir Willaim Temple,an English statesman famous for his culture, and had the opportunity to be acquainted with aristocratic and political circles. In 1694 Swift left Temple and went to Ireland where he was ordained an Anglican priest, but he soon returned to work with Temple. When Sir William died Swift had difficulty in finding employment, so he returned to Ireland, but made frequent visits to London. 1704 saw the publication of the famous Tale of a Tub, a powerful pamphlet satirising the Church and modern learning.
Political activism and later works
Despite his Royalist family background Queen Anne appointed him Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedreal in Dublin in 1713. In Ireland Swift was not indifferent to the endless sufferings of the Irish, and was indignant at England’s exploitation of the country. He responded to oppressive legislation with works like Proposal for the Universal Use of Irish Manufacture (1720) inviting the Irish to boycott English goods, and the famous and brilliant Drapier’s Letters, so called because they were signed M.B Drapier. The mysterious M.B Drapier protested against a new coinage designed for the Irish, which was believed to be not worth its value. These letters set Ireland aflame, and the project was dropped. Every effort was made to obtain evidence of Swift’s authorship, but in vain: all the Irish protected him.
In 1726 the publication of Grim humour marks his famous Modet Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People from being Burden to their parents or the Country (1729). This work was another attack against the British for their injustices to the Irish. Swift spent the rest of his life in Ireland, where he died in 1745 and was buried in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.
Domande da interrogazione
- What role did Sir William Temple play in the early career of the writer?
- How did the writer express his political activism regarding Ireland's situation?
- What is the significance of "A Modest Proposal" in the writer's body of work?
Sir William Temple was a significant figure in the writer's early career, as he appointed the writer as his secretary, providing him with access to aristocratic and political circles in England.
The writer expressed his political activism through works like "Proposal for the Universal Use of Irish Manufacture" and "Drapier’s Letters," which protested against English exploitation and oppressive legislation in Ireland.
"A Modest Proposal" is significant as it is a satirical work that criticizes British injustices towards the Irish, showcasing the writer's use of grim humor to highlight social and political issues.
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