J. SWITH

J. Swift

Unit 01

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

FROM CHARLES II TO GEORGE III

• Charles II restored the Anglicanism and the monarchy in 1660, reviving culture and supporting the Royal Society, which was an association of scientists and intellectuals. Anglicanism and monarchy were again in danger during the reing of his Catholic brother, James II, who succeeded him in 1685. In 1688, his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange took the throne in the “Glorious Revolution” making England a constitutional monarchy, with laws limiting royal power.

Unit 01

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Queen Anne united England and Scotland in the Act of Union (1707). George I (1714-27) spoke little English and relied on his cabinet, leading to the rise of Prime Minister Robert Walpole. His reign saw political stability, economic growth, and increased social mobility. The period was considered a “golden age”. George I was successed by his son, George II, who faced conflicts like the War of the Austrian Succession and the Jacobite Rebellion. His reign expanded British influence, and he was succeeded by his grandson, George III, in 1760.

Unit 01

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

THE AGE OF REASON

• The 18th century in England was considered a “golden age”, marked by cultural innovation, politeness, and rationality. Public debate flourished, and civility became the ideal, shaping the figure of the gentleman. Women gained greater independence in social and cultural life, attending theatres and coffee houses. Female writers contributed to literature, focusing on ordinary life rather than heroic tales. The Enlightenment promoted a new, optimistic view of nature, emphasizing reason and progress. This era influenced landscape design, leading to the rise of the English garden.

Unit 02

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

• In the 1700s, the English literary scene saw two distinct periods: the Restoration (1660-1700) and the Augustan Age (1700-1745).

RESTORATION THE AUGUSTAN AGE

Unit 02

RESTORATION

PROSE

DRAMA

POETRY

• The Restoration was a period of literary innovation, where poetry shifted from the complex metaphysical style to embrace classical simplicity, clarity, and reason. Poetry began focusing more on the real world, with its social and ethical issues, and satire became a key feature.

• The era saw the rise of rationalist philosophy, with thinkers like John Locke and Thomas Hobbes influencing literature. Locke argued that experience and reason were the primary sources of knowledge. The Royal Society promoted the use of English instead of Latin for scientific writings, reflecting the growing importance of accessible knowledge

• Theatres reopened after being shut down by the Puritans. Theatres were now roofed, lit with candles, and featured movable scenery. The audience, mainly upper class, attended for entertainment and social prestige. Actresses began performing, and actors worked under contracts.

Unit 02

RESTORATION

COMEDY OF MANNER

• The best literaty expression of Restoration drama was the “comedy of manners”. This genre satirized the artificiality of high society, focusing on witty, cynical dialogues. Plots emphasized intrigue, but atmosphere and satire were more important. The other element was the theme of marriage, which was devoid of feeling and mainly linked to sex and money as a social contract.

Unit 02

THE AUGUSTAN AGE

• The Augustan Age followed the Restoration and corresponds with the reign of Queen Anne and the early years of King George II.

• This period is named after the classical Roman emperor Augustus, drawing inspiration from classical ideals of order and reason.

• The Augustan Age (18th century) was marked by cultural and economic progress, with a growing interest in literature despite limited literacy among the lower classes.

• Poetry moved away from Metaphysical themes, adopting a classical and moralistic style, often using satire and mock-heroic elements.

• Prose flourished with the rise of the middle class, emphasizing reason, moral values, and realism. Writers like Swift and Fielding combined social critique with rational thought.

Unit 02

• Drama shifted from the comedy of manners to more sentimental plays, focusing on everyday life and virtue.

Unit 03

JONATHAN SWIFT

LIFE

• Jonathan Swift was born in 1667 in Dublin, Ireland, to English parents. He was educated in Ireland but moved to England after the Glorious Revolution (1688). There, he became secretary to Sir William Temple, a Whig statesman, who encouraged him to write his first satirical works. In 1694, Swift returned to Ireland and became an Anglican priest. In 1713, he was appointed Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, a position he held for the rest of his life. Throughout his career, Swift was a strong critic of the Whig government and defended the rights of the Irish people against British oppression.

JONATHAN SWIFT

LIFE

• In 1726, Swift published his masterpiece, Gulliver’s Travels, a satirical novel that criticizes human nature and politics. In 1729, he wrote A Modest Proposal, a shocking satire suggesting that poor Irish families should sell their children as food to the rich, highlighting the cruelty of British rule. In his later years, Swift suffered from mental health issues. He died in 1745 in Dublin, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest satirists in English literature.

CONTROVERSIAL WRITERS

JONATHAN SWIFT

• Jonathan Swift is considered one of the most controversial English writers because of his sharp satire and pessimistic view of humanity. He forced readers to confront uncomfortable truths. His works often criticized political corruption, religious hypocrisy, and social injustices, using irony and exaggeration to provoke reflection.

Unit 04

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

• Written by Jonathan Swift and published in 1726, Gulliver’s Travels is a satirical novel that follows the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver, an Englishman who embarks on four extraordinary voyages.

"I cannot but conclude that the bulk of mankind are very vicious."

Unit 04

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

• Book 1: Lilliput: Gulliver is shipwrecked and finds himself in Lilliput, a land of tiny people who are only six inches tall. He becomes a giant in their society and initially helps them, but he soon realizes that they are obsessed with trivial matters and power struggles. Eventually, he falls out of favor and escapes to England.
• Book 2: Brobdingnag: On his second voyage, Gulliver reaches Brobdingnag, a land of giants. Here, he is the tiny one, treated like a curiosity by the enormous inhabitants. The King of Brobdingnag criticizes European politics and society, making Gulliver feel ashamed of his homeland.

Unit 04

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

Book 3: Laputa and Other Islands: Gulliver then visits Laputa, a floating island ruled by scientists and intellectuals who are so absorbed in their abstract theories that they ignore practical matters. He also explores other strange lands, witnessing absurd experiments and bizarre customs. Book 4: Houyhnhnms and Yahoos: Gulliver’s final journey takes him to the land of the Houyhnhnms, intelligent and rational horses who govern over the Yahoos, a filthy and savage human-like species. Gulliver admires the Houyhnhnms and becomes disgusted with humanity, seeing them as little better than Yahoos. When he is forced to leave, he returns home but can no longer tolerate human society, preferring to live among horses.

Unit 04

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

MEANING

• Swift uses Gulliver’s journeys to criticize human nature, European society, politics, and the Enlightenment’s blind faith in reason. The novel contrasts rationality and animality, showing how humans often act irrationally despite considering themselves superior. The work can be read as both an entertaining adventure story and a sharp political and social satire.

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

ANALYSIS

• Gulliver is initially a curious and rational man with a keen sense of observation. However, his experiences transform him: he becomes increasingly critical of humanity and ultimately alienates himself from society.

• Unlike traditional travel literature, Gulliver’s Travels is a satirical work that exaggerates and distorts reality to critique human flaws, rather than simply describing foreign lands.
• Gulliver serves as the narrator and witness to the absurdities of the world he visits. Through his eyes, Swift critiques politics, society, and human nature.

THE PROJECTORS

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

• Gulliver is at the Academy of Lagado. Here he witnesses several experiments, which he describes by showing both their realistic details and their absurd objectives. He watches, for example, the projects of trying to extract sunshine from cucumbers, to reduce human excrement to its original food and to make gunpowder from ice. In another room there are language projectors trying to abolishing words. The aim of all these projects is to improve some processes, products or human behaviour for the good of humanity. In this text, Swift expresses his interest in the nature of scientific study of absurd things. But these absurd projects are used to point out that reason is an instruments that should be used properly.

Thank you!