Jonathan Swift
Historical Background and Biography
Jonathan Swift Biography
• Born in Dublin Ireland
in 1667
• His father died before
his birth and he is left in
the care of his Uncle
Godwin. Godwin
provided Swift with a
good education.
• Swift graduated from
Trinity college with a
Masters degree in 1688.
Political Turmoil: The Glorious
Revolution
• King James II is king of
England. He is Roman
Catholic. He chose
advisors who were
religious leaders and
answered to the Pope.
These leaders were in
favor of an alliance with
France, England’s mortal
enemy.
• The people feared an
alliance with France as
well as the growing
religious intolerance of the
country.
Glorious Revolution Continued
• Parliament begins to
fear King James. There
is no system to resolve
disputes between the
King and Parliament, so
the King usually won
out on all political
decisions.
• Parliament forcibly
removes James from
the throne and replaces
him with his daughter
and her husband
William and Mary,
protestants.
• This is referred to as
the Glorious Revolution.
Please note: there is no
blood shed.
• Parliament places new
regulations on the
monarchs. The King
must have backing of
parliament to rule. King
does still have influence
over elections though.
Political Parties
•
After the Glorious Revolution, the crown cannot
trust either of the major political parties in England.
Whigs
1.
–
–
–
–
–
Liberal political party in England
Believed in the separation of church and state
Warn of the danger of absolute power of the King
(tyrannical rule, think T-rex)
Also believed it was individuals job to check the power of
the monarchy
Believed in Contractual Monarchy- Parliament has the right
to go against the King when he does not follow the
people’s wishes
Political Parties Continued
2. Tories
– Conservative political party in England
– Believe the Church deserves special
privileges (no separation of Church and
state)
– Believe that parliament should support
legitimate heirs to the throne regardless
of his/her beliefs.
– Believe in a strong monarchy
Swift’s Life Continued
• Swift takes a position as
secretary to a Whig
statesman and essayist.
• Swift does not gain a
position in the party, so
he returns to Ireland. He
begins to write articles for
the English Whigs.
• All of Swifts early works
support the Whigs and
the superiority of classic
literature and thought
over modern writings and
science.
More on Swift’s Life
• The Irish Church
sends Swift to
London to plead for
financial help for the
struggling Church of
Ireland. The Whig
leaders refuse to
excuse the church
from paying its
taxes.
The Resolution
• The Tories agree to
help Swift and Ireland.
• Swift changes his
alliances and now sides
with the Tories.
• The Tory Government
fell in 1714 when
Queen Anne came to
the throne. The Whigs
began to accuse the
Tories of treason.
• This is the influence for
the political quarrels in
Gulliver’s Travels.
Swift’s Alliances
• Martinus Scribblerus Club1714
– Swift and other brilliant and
dissatisfied minds of the era
began to write satires of
politics, science, and learned
men.
– Gulliver’s Travels is a result
of this group. (See other
notes on Satire)
The End of Swift’s Life
• Swift developed
Meniere’s Disease. This
is an infection of the
inner ear that leads to
vertigo and mental
deterioration
• He is declared mental
incompetent in 1742,
and dies in 1745 leaving
his money and estate to
charity.