Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1667. His father (who was also called Jonathan Swift) was a lawyer, who died just two months before the birth of his son. The baby’s mother could not provide for him, so she handed him into the care of his uncle Godwin Swift, who was also an eminent lawyer. The boy went to grammar school and then, at the age of 14, to the University of Trinity College Dublin.
This was a time of great strife and upheaval. In 1688, the Catholic King of England, James II, was overthrown by the protestant William of Orange. Swift moved to England and became the secretary of a leading politician, Sir William Temple. He was ordained as an Anglican priest and later became dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.
In 1704, Swift used a pseudonym to publish a short book, A Tale of a Tub. It was a witty parody of the divisions of Christian churches. It proved popular with the public, but not with the Church of England. He went on to write many essays, books and political pamphlets.
His masterpiece, Gulliver’s Travels, was published in 1726. It was a popular story that contained many allegories for the political events of the times.
In 1729, he published a short book entitled A Modest Proposal, in which he suggested that poor people should sell their children to be eaten by rich people. He wrote, ‘A young healthy child is a most delicious, nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked or boiled.’ He went on to list the economic and social advantages of his suggestion. Many people, on hearing the idea, were deeply offended, though some took it seriously. Only later in the book did it become apparent that he was being intentionally provocative. He then laid out his proposed reforms to improve the plight of the poor and starving in society.
In his book The Art of Creative Thinking, Rod Judkins argues that Swift’s outrageous provocation was justified. He said that Swift’s book had had a profound impact, and that a sober and conventional proposal of reforms could have gone unnoticed. He also pointed out that Swift wanted something to happen and wanted to change things quickly, so he had taken a chance.
In his day, Swift was popular and notorious. He was a thorn in the side of the British political establishment. He is now revered as an Irish hero and as the foremost satirist in the history of English literature.
In 1745, Jonathan Swift died. He is buried in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. He left most of his estate to found a hospital in Dublin for the mentally ill, which exists to this day.
If other methods fail to get your creative message noticed, then maybe you should try being annoying, irritating or even offensive. Swift’s Modest Proposal was deliberately distasteful. It was a big risk. But innovators have to be risk takers. Dare you walk the precipice?
Wrap your radical message in a subtle way. Swift’s book Gulliver’s Travels was immensely popular from the day of its publication. It can be seen as a children’s book or as an early piece of science fiction. However, within the book, there is a keen satire on the state of European governments and of petty differences between religions. Some see it as a work of philosophy on the corruption of mankind. Most books of the day were quite straightforward, but Swift intentionally innovated with an ambiguous book that works on different levels.
It is better to be notorious than to be anonymous. If you want to create waves, you have to do something that is noticed. Jonathan Swift, like Roy Lichtenstein, deliberately upset the establishment.