Masters of Satire: John Dryden and Jonathan Swift Essay

Both speedy and Dryden are masters of ridicule. Usually the satire is directed against an opponent/enemy or a policy-making process. Using references from one poem from each(prenominal) writer, discuss how and why each uses satire and wit as a cutting sword.John Dryden and Jonathan Swift became remarkable satirists by their ability to cleverly entwine semipolitical innuendos into their writings. There were mountains of governmental and religious issues occurring in the era of Dryden and Swift and these two witty men penned their standings into poetry and tales of adventure. Drydens Absalom and Achitophel is laced with his outlooks on Englands situations. He uses numerous moments of humor to make fun of the religious situation between the Catholics and the Protestants and also the political drama later the death of King Charles. His descriptions of the similarities between Englands issues and the many parallels to biblical problems are uncanny. Lines 433 through 438 are just on example of the satire Dryden weaved into his poem. Would David have you thought his darling son?What kernel he then, to alienate the crown?The name of godly he may blush to bearTis after Gods own heart to cheat his heir.He to his brother gives supreme commandTo you a legacy of barren land (890)Dryden was exposing the hypocrisy of King Charles who claimed to be a pious man, yet he shunned his own son.In A Description of a City Shower, Swift incorporated hints of political and class struggles in England. As I read this poem, I got the feeling that Swift was implying that, when national cataclysm strikes (when it rains), no matter what class of citizen you are or political party you belong to, youhave the like reaction as everyone else. The King on down to the poorest peasant shares the need to survive.Here various kinds, by various fortunes led,Commence acquaintance down the stairsneath a shed. (968)I may have been off on what the author really wanted to express, exactly that is how I felt and I could not help but think of 9/11 and how the United States came together. Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, and every other political party came together under tragedy. This poem made me see the bond of nationality all over again.