Jonathan swift imagery

Beauty In Vulgarity

Despite the fact this would most likely disgust a reader, it does create a clear image in their mind. Although Swift could have described the storm as a beautiful scene, he chose to make it repulsive. Much of the second stanza discusses a wench shaking out her mop, showering a passerby with dust, and staining a needy poet’s coat (lines 19-30). Again, Swift uses a dirty image for the rain falling on London, portraying it as a filthy and disgusting place to live. More importantly, the rain falling on the people of London would make them filthy and disgusting as well.

Swift continues to utilize imagery by examining people’s reactions once it starts to rain: women covered in mud run into the store for shelter and bargain, but do not buy anything; a law student calls for a coach; and a seamstress attempts to walk quickly as she can while water streams down her umbrella (lines 33-38). Perhaps one of the most interesting scenes in the poem is the joining together of Tories and Whigs: Here various kinds, by various fortunes led, Commence acquaintance underneath a shed Triumphant Tories and desponding Whigs

Throughout the poem, many different members of society are discussed: a wench, a seamstress, Tories and Whigs, and the wealthy. They all have to deal with the rain in some way or another, making the storm an equalizer for the city dwellers. Swift most likely does not view one social class more negatively than the other, but rather has a dislike for the people of London in general. This point is further emphasized by the “ trophies” joining together in the streets on the way to their final destination—although they might come from different places, they still end up on the same filthy journey.

Earlier in the poem, Swift says that the flood threatens this “ devoted” town (line 32). In this case, however, devoted actually means doomed. Flooding can be looked at in a biblical sense, as God flooded the earth because of their sinfulness. The use of the word devoted is also ironic, as the people are not devoted to God at all; they are sinful and superficial, and are doomed to filthy lives unless they change their ways. Another popular Swift poem, “ The Lady’s Dressing Room”, also manages to convey Swift’s opinions on aspects of society through satire. The Lady’s Dressing Room” tells the story of Strephon, a man who ventures into a dressing room previously occupied by a woman named Celia. In doing so, he discovers many unpleasant and disgusting items, entirely changing his view on women. The poem begins by addressing the fact that Celia has spent five hours dressing, and asks if anyone else could do it in less time (lines 1-2). These lines have a somewhat ironic tone—it would seem that five hours is an outrageous amount of time to get ready, but it is a normal occurrence for women to take that long.

Any time he sees a woman, his imagination pictures her “ with all her stinks” (line 123). The narrator goes on to say that they pity Strephon’s blindness to the charms of women, and that if he would “ stop his nose”, he would appreciate Celia when she looks her best (lines 129-136). Strephon should not turn away from love simply based on the fact that women are not always perfect and “ rose from stinking ooze” (line 132). Swift uses another image that includes both beauty and filth to wrap up the poem: He soon would learn to think like me And bless his ravished sight to see

Such order from confusion sprung, Such gaudy tulips raised from dung (lines 141-144). It is extremely important that the narrator thinks Strephon should “ bless his ravished sight” and be thankful that he has seen this side of Celia; despite what he believes, it is not a punishment inflicted by Vengeance. When Celia looks attractive, he will find her more beautiful knowing that she might not be incredibly attractive to begin with. He will see the perfections in her imperfections. Although these lines describe the narrator’s opinion of Strephon’s discovery, it can also describe Swift’s view of this poem.

Works Cited

1. Swift, Jonathan. “ Description of a City Shower”. Trans. Array The Norton Anthology ofPoetry.

2. Margaret Ferguson, Mary Jo Salter and Jon Stallworthy. Shorter Fifth Edition. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2005. 442. Print. Swift, Jonathan. ” The Lady’s Dressing Room”. Trans. Array