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Swift And Jonathan Swift Analysis

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Background • There is evidence that shows clearly a friendly and influential relationship between Jonathan Swift and Sir William Temple when Swift spent most of his time during the period of composition of A Tale of a Tub at Temple’s residence at Moor Park. • Swift’s influence from Temple is seen in his work. Temple believed in human psychology rather than human reason. • Swift is seen exploring the processes of human reasoning in “A Digression on Madness”. • He is skeptical of human reason, and he advocates outward conformity to religion and government. • Swift looks up to Epicureanism – which can broadly be defined a state with a mixed feeling of tranquility, freedom from fear and absence of bodily pains. Meaning • Swift talks about vapours in mind/brain governing the decisions/ actions of a person. • These vapours are also called as ‘fumes of brains’ which also define the mental and physical state of an individual. • It is interesting to note how craftily words are woven to describe the nature of these vapours with emphasis laid on words like on ‘fumes’ & ‘mists’. This depicts and substantiates the very mystical & unknown nature of these “vapours”. • The proportion of how these vapours work and in which order, intensity, amount/ quantity, “angle” varies from person to person – which also defines a person’s individual mind system. This in a manner of speaking be understood as a definition of an individual’s personality or individuality. • Another variable which

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