Assignment - 2 : Satire and Religious context in A Tale of A Tub :
This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 102 - Literature of the Neo-Classical Periods, Sem - 1, 2024
A Tale of a Tub
- Personal Information
- Assignment Details
- Introduction
- Historical and Religious Context
- Allegorical Characters and Structure in A Tale of a Tub
- Hypocrisy in Religion and Satire in A Tale of a Tub
- Swift’s Satirical Techniques in A Tale of a Tub
- Swift’s Message and Legacy
- Conclusion
- References
Batch:- M.A. Sem 1 (2024-2026)
Enrollment Number:- 5108240017
E-mail Address:- bhumimahida385@gmail.com
Roll Number:- 03
Assignment Details :
Topic:- Satire and Religious context in A Tale of A Tub
Paper & subject code:- 102 - Literature of the Neo-Classical Periods
Submitted to:- Smt. S.B Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar
Date of Submission:- 20th November, 2024
About Assignment:- In this assignment i define the Satire and Religious conflict in the context of A Tale of a Tub.
Introduction :
Jonathan Swift, a well-known satirist and Anglican clergyman, wrote A Tale of a Tub to reveal the flaws and hypocrisy he saw in religious institutions during his time. In this satirical work, Swift criticizes not only the Catholic Church but also the extreme Protestant groups, using humor and symbolic characters to explore the conflicts and inconsistencies within Christianity. During the 17th and early 18th centuries, people faced many religious divisions, and Swift believed that these religious groups had moved away from the original values of Christianity. A Tale of a Tub uses the characters Peter, Martin, and Jack to represent the Catholic, Anglican, and Puritan churches, allowing Swift to illustrate how each institution deviated from true Christian teachings due to hypocrisy and ambition.
Historical and Religious Context :
The religious environment in England during Swift's time was filled with conflict. Different groups, including Catholics, Anglicans, and Puritans, had competing beliefs and practices. Swift was a clergyman in the Anglican Church, which influenced his view on religion. He valued moderation and believed that religion should promote moral values rather than personal ambitions.
Swift wanted to defend Anglicanism against the extremes he saw in other religious groups. He believed that true Christianity was simple and honest but that people had corrupted it to fit their desires and ambitions. This belief led him to create a satire that could make people laugh while also making them think critically about the role of religion in society.
Allegorical Characters and Structure in A Tale of a Tub :
Swift uses the characters of three brothers—Peter, Jack, and Martin—to represent the main branches of Christianity. Their father’s will symbolizes the Bible, and the coats he leaves them represent Christian faith. The will instructs the brothers to keep their coats in their original form, but each brother eventually changes his coat, showing how each religious group adapted the Bible’s teachings for their own purposes.
Peter represents the Catholic Church and its connection to the apostle Peter. Peter’s character is full of pride and a desire for control, often using manipulation to keep power over others. Swift portrays Peter as greedy and power-hungry, willing to change the teachings to fit his needs.
Jack represents Puritanism. He is strict, rejecting anything he considers unnecessary or sinful. Jack becomes so focused on following rules that he forgets the core message of love and kindness in Christianity. His extreme behavior shows how Puritans often went too far in rejecting traditional practices.
Martin represents the Anglican Church and Martin Luther, the founder of the Protestant Reformation. Martin is portrayed as the most moderate and reasonable brother, but even he makes compromises. Swift gently criticizes the Anglican Church for its tendency to adapt to society’s demands rather than staying true to its principles.
Catholic Church Critique (Peter’s Hypocrisy)
- Peter’s character embodies the corruption and greed Swift saw in the Catholic Church. Peter claims he has authority over everyone, but he uses this power selfishly. For instance, Peter sells indulgences, offering pardons for sins if people pay him money. This practice reflects how the Catholic Church sometimes sold forgiveness, a clear example of religious hypocrisy. Peter even tricks his followers into believing simple bread is high-quality meat, showing how religious leaders can deceive people.
- Jack represents the Puritans, who rejected the Catholic Church’s rituals. However, in his attempt to be different, Jack becomes overly strict. He angrily strips away any decoration from his coat, thinking this will make him pure. This extreme behavior highlights the Puritan focus on strictness rather than compassion. Swift shows that by focusing too much on rules, Puritans could become judgmental, forgetting the kindness and forgiveness that Christianity teaches.
- Martin, the Anglican representative, tries to balance between Peter and Jack. He removes some decorations from his coat but does so moderately. Martin’s character shows the Anglican Church’s tendency to compromise, which can weaken its principles. Swift respected the Anglican Church but believed it sometimes made too many concessions to avoid conflict. This flexibility might keep people happy but can lead to a diluted version of true faith.
Swift’s Satirical Techniques in A Tale of a Tub :
By using the characters of Peter, Jack, and Martin as symbols, Swift shows how religious institutions stray from true teachings. The coats and the will are symbols of faith and guidance, with each brother’s alteration of his coat representing a shift from the original teachings.
Irony and Humor
Swift’s irony is sharp. For example, Peter’s insistence that bread is meat mocks the idea of blind faith and shows how ridiculous some religious practices appear. By using absurdity, Swift forces readers to question whether religious leaders are truly honest.
In the “Apology” section of A Tale of a Tub, Swift addresses criticisms directly. Here, he claims he never meant to insult the Anglican Church but wanted to criticize the foolishness he saw in all churches. This statement is part of his satirical approach, as he uses humor to reveal the deeper message that all institutions are flawed
Through A Tale of a Tub, Swift sends a strong message about the need for genuine faith. He argues that the problem is not with Christianity but with human tendencies toward corruption and greed. Swift encourages readers to return to the simple, honest values of Christianity and avoid blindly following leaders who might exploit them.
Lasting Impact of A Tale of a Tub Swift’s satire was controversial, especially among church leaders, who saw it as an attack on religion. However, the popularity of A Tale of a Tub showed that many people resonated with Swift’s message. By exposing the hypocrisy in religious institutions, Swift inspired readers to think critically about who they trusted to guide their faith.
Conclusion :
In A Tale of a Tub, Jonathan Swift uses satire to reveal the problems he saw in Christianity, focusing on how each branch failed in different ways. Through the characters of Peter, Jack, and Martin, Swift represents Catholicism, Puritanism, and Anglicanism, showing how each of these groups moved away from the simplicity and honesty of Christ’s teachings. Peter, who represents the Catholic Church, falls into corruption and greed, caring more about power and wealth than true faith. Jack, a symbol of Puritanism, becomes so extreme and strict in his beliefs that he loses sight of the compassion and humility that Christianity teaches. Martin, who represents the Anglican Church, tries to stay moderate but ends up compromising too much, weakening the core values of faith.
Swift’s satire is powerful because it uses humor and exaggeration to point out these flaws in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Instead of directly attacking, he allows readers to see the hypocrisy through the foolish actions and words of his characters. Swift’s message is clear: religion should not be about power, extreme beliefs, or bending the rules for convenience. He challenges people to seek a faith that is genuine, free from corruption, and rooted in true Christian teachings.
References :
Peterson, Leland D. “Swift’s Project: A Religious and Political Satire.” PMLA, vol. 82, no. 1, 1967, pp. 54–63. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/461047. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.
Tazegüney, Nilüfer Akın. “Religious Hypocrisy in Jonathan Swift’s A Tale of a Tub.” www.academia.edu, Jan. 2016, www.academia.edu/20188301/Religious_Hypocrisy_in_Jonathan_Swifts_A_Tale_of_a_Tub.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “A Tale of a Tub by Swift | Summary and Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Oct. 2011, www.britannica.com/topic/A-Tale-of-a-Tub-prose-satire-by-Swift.
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