Main directions of the English Literature in the Early Middle ages

40.Jonathan Swift – the greatest literary critic and creator of the XVIII century.Jonathan Swift was the greatest of English satirists. He is generally thought to be the greatest prose writer of the eighteenth century. He was a man whom many considered a misanthrope (one who hates humankind) because his writings were deeply critical of humanity. It was, however, his deep love for humanity that caused him to criticize it, and his great dream was to cure the ills of his age through humor.Jonathan Swift was the greatest of English satirists. He is generally thought to be the greatest prose writer of the eighteenth century. He was a man whom many considered a misanthrope (one who hates humankind) because his writings were deeply critical of humanity. It was, however, his deep love for humanity that caused him to criticize it, and his great dream was to cure the ills of his age through humor

1697, Swift’s had written his first satires “The Battle of Books” and “A Tale of a Tub”. But both of them were published later, in 1704. In “A Tale of a Tub”, the author ridiculed the extravagances of religion, literature, and academia. “The Battle of Books” is a mock debate between ancient and modern authors.Swift kept an eye on the political events of London. He wrote political pamphlets in defense of the Whigs. His contributions to “The Tattler”, “The Spectator” and other magazines show how well he understood the spirit of the time. Jonathan’s conversations with the leaders of the English political parties are described in his letters to Stella (Esther). His letters became his famous work “Journal to Stella”.In 1713, Swift was made Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. In Ireland Swift came into contact with the common people and saw miserable conditions in which the population lived. Swift wrote pamphlets criticizing the colonial policy of England. In 1726 Swift’s masterpiece “Gulliver’s Travels” appeared and it made a great sensation.Conditions in Ireland between 1700 and 1750 were disastrous. Famine (hunger) had depopulated whole regions. The districts were covered with unburied corpses. Swift wrote the pamphlets: “The Present Miserable State of Ireland”, “A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People from Being a Burden to Their Parents or the Country” and others.