'No more existence than the inhabitants of utopia' : reading Jonathan Swift as a utopian and dystopian writer

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to determine the extent to which Jonathan Swift can be considered to be a Utopian and/or Dystopian writer. Because Swift is predominantly a critic of society, and this is also a main function of these genres, it is fitting to explore how his myriad portrayals of society align with the conventions of these literary frameworks. The works that have been chosen for this analysis are "Gulliver’s Travels", "A Modest Proposal", and "A Tale of a Tub". The first chapter, which is also the introductory chapter, will contextualise the subject of this dissertation by observing the dynamic of Swift’s historical position in relation to both genres, thus demonstrating the influence of conventional Utopian structures in his works, as well how he deviates from these conventions in a way that anticipates the formal qualities of the dystopian genre. The next two chapters will analyse the content of these works in more depth by looking at the function that Swift ascribes to his Utopian and Dystopian structures. Chapter Two will focus on the way Swift represents the nature of politics via its manifestation in these societies and the efficiency of governance in such extreme states. Chapter Three will focus on the way mankind is represented in Utopias and Dystopias, and whether humanity can flourish or will inevitably be hindered by the influence of such societies. Both chapters, thus, will consider the positionality of Swift’s Utopias and Dystopias in relation to his perception of the real world. In concluding, this dissertation will attempt to evaluate whether, ultimately, Swift is more Utopian or Dystopian as a writer, as well as how this is important to our perceived development of these genres.