Satires

Born in Dublin in 1667, Jonathan Swift is considered by literary studies to be the greatest satirist of the English language. We can honor the authors of countless masterpieces that have become classic today, including Gulliver's Travels and Modest Suggestions. It is characteristic of his literary work that he has tried to characterize the extremist lives, serious social problems, and sick politics surrounding him on both sides of the Irish Sea with farce. As an artist, he spoke on vital topics, but he sometimes dressed his urgent statement in a robe of indifference or indiscipline. In his writings he transgressed all recorded and expected forms of conventions. Through his bold, angry style, subject choices that completely break with hypocrisy, and his unprecedentedly strong social critique, Swift gradually rose to become an immortal giant of essay, satire, and imitation. It had an immeasurable impact in the twentieth century, especially in Ireland, including Joyce and Yates. Voltaire wrote to Swift, "The more I read his works, the more I am ashamed of mine."