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Reading Jonathan Swift`s Mind in His Works: Searching for His Genuine Humanity
신원경 ( Won Kyung Shin )
UCI I410-ECN-0102-2012-740-001722247

Jonathan Swift has been thought to be a misanthrope because he describes men as hateful animals in his satiric works such as Gulliver`s Travels. In particular, he is accused of misogyny by depicting disgusting female figures in his prose and verse alike. I study the way he expresses his hatred of man, the reason of his fury, the real intention of his satire by analysing his biographical materials such as Correspondence, Journal to Stella. Absurdity and degeneration of man led him to strong anger at the gap between the reality and the ideal. Disillusioned by the reality veiled under the falsehood, he advises us to have an insight to penetrate the surface. Here lies the end of his satire. This paper aims to examine if he should be called a misanthrope or a misogynist. Having observed a lot of bitterness of life, Swift says that his work is a tortured attempt to make people look into things as they are. This is his love for men, not hatred. And as to his misogyny, I think differently: he had many female friends for whom he showed his genuine respect and love all his life. Swift felt keenly the gap between the ideal and the real, never giving up love for man.

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