Reflections on Jonathan Swift’s <i>A Tale of a Tub</i>

Abstract

Jonathan Swift’s <i>A Tale of a Tub</i> is the first renowned work by the famous author. In it, Swift allegorically treats the story of the Reformation from the ‘Anglican’ point of view. Along with the accepted reading of the work, this study suggests a new, non-traditional perspective. For example, we can speculate on whether Swift could have chosen two main characters instead of three, and how that could have influenced the work. Would that have enhanced the ‘Protestant’ idea of the Tale? The figure of the Father in <i>A Tale of a Tub</i> is ambiguous. Did Swift mean the God himself as often considered by the work’s critics? Or, if the three brothers personify three branches of Christianity, could the Father figure imply also a religious denomination, acting as a source for the others? Is Swift aware of that, and, if not, could it lead to a new insight, shedding light on the nature of the conflict discussed in the story? The present article attempts to answer these questions.