History of English Literature

What is satire? Discuss the prevalence of satire in the 18^th century in the particular reference of Pope and Swift.

Satire, in general, means a literary work which searches out the faults of men or institution in order to hold them up to ridicule. The objective of satire is not always critical, however, a good satire, like noted by Dryden, has clinical and corrective effects, too. 

Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift occupy the most distinctive positions in the history of English satirical literature. The “Age of Satire” in England is mainly associated with their names and in them is found the growth of English satirical literature. 

Alexander Pope is the most representative poet in his age and delineates his society perfectly well, with all its tendencies, ideals and manners. His celebrated work “The Rape of the Lock” is a brilliant piece of workmanship, breathing the very spirit of the time, and contains an exquisite picture of the contemporary depraved fashionable society of London.  In fact, the truth of his poetry lies much in the truthfulness presentation of the social follies and vanities of his own days. 

As a satirist, Pope is a great wit. His poetry is delightfully witty and this is another characteristic that has made his writing so popular among the reader of all times.

Again, Pope is considered as a social critic- a critic of all that is vulgar, gross, weak and dull; found in his mock epic “The Rape of the Lock”. His satire is directed not against any individual man or woman, but rather against the whole corrupt, vulgar, artificial English society of the eighteenth century. 

Jonathan Swift, an extremely talented author, as a satirist, is still remarkable in the history of English literature; though his works are in prose not in verse. He cannot definitely be placed among the verse satirist of the time. Yet without his name the satirical literature of England remains incomplete and imperfect. 

Swift is deemed as an innovator of his prose satire which he gives out in a number of his works, including “The Battle of the Books”, “The Tale of a Tub” and “Gulliver’s Travels”. The former work is quit appealing, where the satire is both personal and general. In “Gulliver’s Travels” he caricatures with a rare gift of subtlety, different political personalities in high ranks and makes a much penetrative fun of them.

Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift, as satirists, stand unassailable in the realm of English literature. Both of their contributions to English literature are unequivocal and inconsiderable.