think Jonathan Swift is a misanthropist? Justify your answers.
Or, “Swift was a great humanist in spite of his being a misanthropist.”—Substantiate.
Or, Consider Swift as a great humanist.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) was a famous satirist. He wrote “Gulliver’s Travels” (1726) to show the bad sides of people. Many think he hated people. This is called misanthropy. But some say he wanted people to change. They call him a humanist. In this book, Swift laughs at people’s pride, lies, and silly fights. He shows how bad society can be. But deep inside, he hoped for better. So, Swift was a critic, not a hater of mankind.
Hate of Yahoos: Swift shows strong hate for the Yahoos. They look like humans but act like beasts. They are dirty, greedy, and wild. Gulliver feels disgusted when he sees them. He says,
“Upon the whole, I never beheld in all my Travels so disagreeable an Animal, nor one against which I naturally conceived so strong an Antipathy.”
Swift shows how people act with no reason or truth. The Yahoos love money and fight often. This makes many people think Swift hates all humans. But he may just show how low people can fall if they forget good values.
Love for the Houyhnhnms: The Houyhnhnms are clean, wise, and kind. They never lie or fight. They live by reason. Gulliver loves them more than humans. He wants to live with them forever. He even avoids humans when he returns home. This part shows Swift's dream. He wants people to be like the Houyhnhnms. It is not hate, but hope. He shows a better way of life. So, Swift does not hate people. He wants them to improve.
Satire with a Purpose: Swift laughs at kings, courts, and war. In Lilliput, people fight over how to break an egg. Thousands (11000) die in this silly fight. Six wars at different times occurred, as the issue violated their religious doctrine, which states:
“That all true Believers shall break their eggs at the convenient end.”
He also shows stupid rules and games in politics. He makes fun of proud kings and corrupt ministers. These are not jokes for fun. He wants people to think. His goal is to help society get better.
Change and Loneliness: Gulliver changes a lot after living with the Houyhnhnms. He starts to believe that humans are bad, dirty, and full of evil thoughts. He compares people with the Yahoos and feels ashamed to be one of them. When he comes back to England, he cannot live normally. He does not like to see other people. Gulliver even starts to hate himself. He feels shocked and sad to know he is also a human. He says:
“When I happened to behold the reflection of my own form in a lake or fountain, I turned away my face in horror and detestation of myself.”
Now, he wants to live with horses. He thinks horses are wise and kind. So, he spends most of his time with them.
In conclusion, Jonathan Swift looked like a misanthropist, but he was not. He only hated the wrong ways of men. He showed how bad things were. But he also showed a better life. He used satire to correct, not to destroy. His love for truth made him write such strong words. In fact, he was a true humanist. His dream was a wise and fair world. So, Swift was not a hater of man, but a lover of good mankind.
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