Jonathan Swift Essay

Traveling around the world can open your eyes to many new discoveries. Jonathan Swift was a well-known author during the 1600 and 1700’s. Many of Swift’s pieces were based on his experiences during his travels. “For most general readers, the name Jonathan Swift is associated only with his satiric masterpiece Gulliver's Travels. They are not aware that, in addition to it and hundreds of poems, he wrote a great deal of nonfictional prose, much of it of considerable interest, significance, and excellence” (Schakel).

As a child, “Swift grew up fatherless and dependent on the generosity of his uncle” (“Jonathan Swift”). Jonathan was born in 1667 in Dublin, Ireland. According to “The Early Life and Education of Jonathan Swift” his father died in 1667 before Jonathan was born. Jonathan’s mother felt very strongly about her son’s education. “At the age of six he was sent to Kilkenny School, then the best in Ireland” (“Jonathan Swift”). “Swift continued in residence at Trinity College as a candidate for his masters of arts degree until February 1689. The Roman Catholic disorders began to spread through Dublin after the Glorious Revolution, causing Swift to seek security in England with a distant relative named Sir William Temple, at Moor Park.” (“Jonathan Swift”). As stated in “Jonathan Swift” Temple was engaged in writing memoirs and preparing essays for publication, and Swift acted as his secretary. Swift gained much knowledge while he was with Temple by reading many books from Temple’s vast library. This is when Jonathan really became interested in writing. “Between 1691 and 1694 Swift wrote a number of poems and between 1696 and 1699 he turned to prose and wrote some of his most famous works such as A Tale of a Tub” (“Jonathan ...

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...an Swift Biography”)

“The closing years of Swift’s life have been the subject of some misrepresentation, and stories have been told of his ungovernable temper and lack of self-control” (“Jonathan Swift”). Jonathan Swift lived a long 78 years, he died on October 19, 1745. “He is said to have suffered what is known to have been Meniere’s Disease, an affliction of the semicircular canals of the ears” (“Jonathan Swift”). In 1742 he was declared incapable of caring for himself, and guardians were appointed, according to the article “Jonathan Swift”. “Later that year (1742) he suffered from a stroke and lost the ability to speak” (“Jonathan Swift Biography”). In 1745, Swift was “laid to rest next to Esther Johnson inside of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral” (“Jonathan Swift Biography”). After living his long life Swift said “No wise man ever wished to be younger.”