Swift wrote plain perfection of prose. Comment.
Many critics like William Deans Howells; T.S. Elio
t etc. have called Jonathan Swift the greatest writer of prose like T.S. Eliot says that
"Swift, th
e greatest writer of English prose, and the greatest man who has ever written great English prose."
But there are reasons for this greatness. One of the main reasons is that Swift wrote in a very pla
in and downright style. He didn't use any embellishments. At times, when Swift was writing serious s
tuff this same plain style appears dry but when writing humorously, this same plainness gives his wi
t a singular edge. Swift didn't use ornate or rhetorical language; he said what he had to in simply
without any affectation as Hugh Blair says
"His style is of the plain and simple kind; free of all
affectation, and all superfluity; perspicuous, manly and pure."
And at times, his style appears so
simple that its seems like anybody with a little sense of writing could write like him but in this s
ame simple ness of manner lies Swift's greatness like Scott says
"Swift's style seems so simple tha
t one would think any child might write as he does, and yet if we try we find to our own despair tha
t it is impossible."
This same simplicity of style in Gulliver's Travels corresponds to the naiveté
and simplicity of Gulliver.
Another important feature of Swift's prose is that he uses the common
touch. In other words, everybody can understand his language that is why even children can read his
books with so much enjoyment. Also, Swift addresses people as rational and political beings, making
them his equals. For example, in Drapier's Letters Swift uses the same language of the class which h
e is addressing i.e. rough and shrewd. Swift doesn't write long sentences or speeches or difficult w
ords. And he familiarizes with the people by using their own simple and at times coarse language.
I
nvention or imagination is an aspect witch makes Swift one of the greatest English writers. J.J. Hog
an says
"One of Swift's greatest outlets, of course, was invention."
Although Swift has used many
non-sensical and imaginary words, but these imaginary words have an underlying meaning. For example,
Lindalino indicates "Dublin", Nardac when broken down in German Narr (meaning fool) and doch (meani
ng still) turns into 'still a fool'. Hekinah Degul can be translated, on grounds of similarity of s
ound, turns into 'What in the devil'. Glumdalclitch can be divided into French 'grand' and Latin 'a
ltrix' which in turn is combined to produce the meaning 'enormous nurse'. The word Grildrig can be t
ranslated into 'Girl-thing' or 'doll'. Swift also uses onomatopoeic words for example, Gulliver, Lil
liput, Brobdingnag, Houyhnhnms, Yahoos etc. The name Lilliput suggest something small like in the w
ord little, Brobdingnag suggest something, which is big. The same way Houyhnhnms (pronounced Whinnim
s) sounds just like the neighing of a horse and Yahoo is the sound that people make when they are li
berated. Even the names that Swift gives to characters are onomatopoeic like Gulliver which is simil
ar in sound to gullible, the emperor's name in Lilliput Golbasto Momaren Evlame Gurdilo Shefin Mully
Ully Gue shows a little bit of the inflated nature of the emperor and the last part Mully Ully Gue
sounds ridiculous after such a long, inflated name. And Swift tries to give meaning to these same wo
rds to create a sense of authenticity for example, in voyage II, Gulliver is described as being as b
ig as a splacknuck. So, although some words sound totally non-sensical there, is, infact some sense
and meaning behind them.
There are a few other ways in which Swift's writing is so remarkable. One
of them is that is that Swift creates authenticity through the use of archaic language (like the lan
guage used in the Old Testament) for example after his long nap, Gulliver says that he awaked after
a long nap. Also, Swift goes into very minute detail of anything that he's describing. Like he descr
ibes the exact latitude, longitude, dates, naval details, details about clothing, manners, etc. At t
imes, these same details are very disgusting like he describes how he had to disburden himself in Li
lliput or the beggars in Brobdingna, but these same disgusting details create realism.
One of the m
ost prominent features of Swift's writing is his satire, which is described by Jacques Barzun as mor
e deadly than a trap. His satire is very bitter, it isn't gentle at all. But the best thing about hi
s satire is that he's satirizing the society through somebody as naïve and gentle as Gulliver. Swift
most corrosive satire is on women and politicians, although, at times he does satirize other people
like the scientists in Voyage III of Gulliver's Travels or the religious members through The Tale o
f a Tub. Swift commonly uses situational satire to criticize or when he excessively praises someone,
it's a strategy of irony and Swift manipulates this praise for his own satiric ends.
So the main r
easons why Swift's prose is plain perfection is that he writes in a simple manner, uses common langu
age, he uses imaginary and non-sensical words and gives authenticity to these words, the use of arch
aic language to give authenticity, the description of everything up to the minutest detail and the w
ay in which Swift uses satire.
swift wrote plain perfection prose comment many critics like willia
m deans howells eliot have called jonathan swift greatest writer prose like eliot says that swift gr
eatest writer english prose greatest ever written great english there reasons this greatness main re
asons that wrote very plain downright style didn embellishments times when writing serious stuff thi
s same plain style appears when writing humorously this same plainness gives singular edge didn orna
te rhetorical language said what simply without affectation hugh blair says style simple kind free a
ffectation superfluity perspicuous manly pure times appears simple that seems like anybody with litt
le sense writing could write same simple ness manner lies greatness scott says seems would think chi
ld might write does find despair impossible simplicity gulliver travels corresponds naivet simplicit
y gulliver another important feature uses common touch other words everybody understand language eve
n children read books with much enjoyment also addresses people rational political beings making the
m equals example drapier letters uses language class which addressing rough shrewd doesn write long
sentences speeches difficult words familiarizes with people using their times coarse invention imagi
nation aspect witch makes english writers hogan outlets course invention although used many sensical
imaginary words these imaginary have underlying meaning example lindalino indicates dublin nardac w
hen broken down german narr meaning fool doch meaning still turns into still fool hekinah degul tran
slated grounds similarity sound turns into what devil glumdalclitch divided into french grand latin
altrix which turn combined produce enormous nurse word grildrig translated girl thing doll also uses
onomatopoeic example gulliver lilliput brobdingnag houyhnhnms yahoos name lilliput suggest somethin
g small word little brobdingnag suggest something which houyhnhnms pronounced whinnims sounds just n
eighing horse yahoo sound people make they liberated even names gives characters onomatopoeic simila
r sound gullible emperor name lilliput golbasto momaren evlame gurdilo shefin mully ully shows littl
e inflated nature emperor last part mully ully sounds ridiculous after such long inflated name tries
give these create sense authenticity voyage described being splacknuck although some totally sensic
al there infact some sense behind them there other ways remarkable them creates authenticity through
archaic used testament after long awaked after also goes very minute detail anything describing des
cribes exact latitude longitude dates naval details details about clothing manners these details ver
y disgusting describes disburden himself beggars brobdingna disgusting create realism most prominent
features satire described jacques barzun more deadly than trap satire bitter gentle best thing abou
t satire satirizing society through somebody gentle most corrosive women politicians although does s
atirize other scientists voyage travels religious members through tale commonly situational criticiz
e excessively praises someone strategy irony manipulates praise satiric ends main reasons perfection
writes manner common imaginary sensical gives authenticity archaic give description everything minu
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