Discover Jonathan Swift’s dazzling and ferocious early satire, ‘A Tale of a Tub,’ and read the complete work online for free.
Published in 1704, A Tale of a Tub is the brilliant, chaotic, and notoriously difficult masterpiece of Jonathan Swift’s youth. It is a savagely funny and complex satire that operates on multiple levels simultaneously. The central allegory tells the “tale” of three brothers—Peter (Roman Catholicism), Martin (Lutheranism/Martin Luther), and Jack (Calvinism/John Calvin)—who inherit three identical coats (the Christian faith) from their father (Christ) with strict instructions not to alter them. The brothers immediately begin adding fashionable ornaments (corrupt doctrines and practices), leading to absurdity, conflict, and the eventual rending of the coats. This core narrative is a devastating satire on the corruption and schisms of Christianity.
But the Tale is much more. It is framed by a series of hilarious “Digressions” on topics like critics, madness, and the nature of writing, delivered by a pompous, insane, and wonderfully unreliable Modern narrator whom Swift is also satirizing. Swift attacks what he saw as the intellectual arrogance and superficiality of his age—the modern philosophers, projectors, critics, and freethinkers who prized novelty over substance. The prose is a torrent of parody, puns, mock-learning, and controlled insanity.
A Tale of a Tub announced Swift as a satirist of unparalleled ambition and ferocity. Its learned allusions, labyrinthine structure, and relentless irony have challenged and fascinated readers for centuries. While its religious satire is specific to its time, its broader attack on pedantry, hypocrisy, and the folly of human systems—whether religious, literary, or philosophical—remains wickedly relevant. It is a book that demands and rewards close attention, offering some of the most inventive and biting prose in the English language.
On this page, you can grapple with Swift’s formidable early work. We offer the complete 1704 text with notes for online reading.
Book Info
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | A Tale of a Tub |
| Author | Jonathan Swift |
| Year of Publication | 1704 |
| Genre | Satire, Religious Allegory, Philosophy |
| Language | English (Original) |
| Legal Status | Public Domain |
| Format | Online Reading |
Read A Tale of a Tub Online
Dive into Swift’s labyrinth of irony. Begin exploring this dense and brilliant satire interactively below.
This preview introduces the madcap voice of Swift’s narrator, but the full, intricate allegory of the three brothers and the wild digressions are available in the complete text for our subscribers.
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About A Tale of a Tub
The book’s complexity is its point. Swift creates a hall of mirrors where every target is satirized, including the satirist’s own persona and tools.
The Central Allegory: The Three Coats
The tale of Peter, Martin, and Jack is a relatively straightforward (for Swift) satire on the history of Christian schism.
- Peter (The Catholic Church): Becomes arrogant, claims authority over his brothers, and adds the most outrageous ornaments (indulgences, papal bulls, transubstantiation).
- Martin (Lutheran/Anglican Reform): Tries to carefully remove the bad ornaments but is cautious not to tear the coat (a moderate reformation).
- Jack (Extreme Puritanism/Calvinism): In furious zeal to remove all of Peter’s additions, rips his coat to shreds, creating a bare, fanatical faith.
The Digressions: Satire on Modern Learning
The “Digressions” are where Swift’s genius runs wild. He parodies the style of modern writers—their prefaces, footnotes, and grandiose claims. Key digressions include:
- “Digression Concerning Criticks”: Mocks the vanity and uselessness of critics.
- “Digression on Madness”: Famously argues that most human achievements (conquest, philosophy, systems) are the product of a “distempered brain.” This is one of Swift’s deepest and most cynical philosophical statements.
- The narrator himself is a satire of the modern “author,” filled with self-importance and disjointed thoughts.
Style as Weapon
Swift employs every rhetorical device: parody, pun, allegory, faux-scholarly citation, and deliberate incoherence. The text is filled with asterisks, gaps, and ironic apologies. The reader must constantly work to discern Swift’s true meaning from the nonsense spouted by his narrator, making the act of reading an exercise in critical thinking.
A Satire on Satire
Ultimately, the Tale is also a satire on the very attempt to find stable meaning or truth in texts (or religions). It is a profoundly skeptical and postmodern work centuries ahead of its time. The famous “Apology” added later defends the work as a satire on “the numerous and gross corruptions in religion and learning,” but even this may be part of the ironic game.
Why Read A Tale of a Tub Today?
It is the ultimate satire on intellectual and religious hubris. In an age of information overload, conflicting narratives, and ideological certainty, Swift’s demolition of all pretensions to absolute truth is bracingly relevant. It teaches the reader to be suspicious of easy answers, grand systems, and the seductions of stylish nonsense.
It is also a showcase of linguistic and rhetorical virtuosity at its most playful and deadly. To read A Tale of a Tub is to engage in a thrilling, exhausting, and immensely rewarding battle of wits with one of the sharpest minds in history.
FAQ
Can I read A Tale of a Tub for free?
Yes, you can read the beginning for free via our interactive preview. Access to the complete, complex work requires a subscription.
Why is it called “A Tale of a Tub”?
The phrase was a contemporary idiom for a ridiculous story or a diversion. Swift uses it to suggest his wild narrative is just a frivolous tale, a classic ironic understatement masking a serious attack.
Is it anti-religious?
It is anti-hypocrisy and anti-corruption within organized religion. Swift was a devout Anglican clergyman. His satire is aimed at what he saw as the departures of Catholicism and extremist Protestantism from the simple, original faith (the plain coat). However, its tone is so fierce it has often been misread as an attack on religion itself.
Is it very difficult to read?
Yes, it is considered one of the most challenging satires in English. It requires familiarity with 18th-century religious debates and literary fashions. Footnotes and a patient, attentive reading are highly recommended.
Can I read it on my phone?
You can, but its density and need for cross-referencing notes make it a challenging read on a small screen. A tablet or computer might provide a better experience for this particular text.