Phiddian explores the distinction between satirical and comic laughter, and the role of satire in licensing public expression of harsh emotions defined in neuroscience as the CAD (contempt, anger, disgust) triad. With a focus on eighteenth-century satirists such as Jonathan Swift, he reveals the importance of satire to free political expression.
Focusing on parody as a key structural element in Jonathan Swift's prose, this study examines his works, particularly A Tale of a Tub, before 1714. Robert Phiddian analyzes how Swift constructs and deconstructs textual authority, revealing insights into cultural-historical, biographical, and literary contexts. The research highlights the occasions of Swift's parodies, their relationships with quoted texts, and their impact on cultural authority in late-Stuart England. Additionally, it offers a fresh perspective on Swift's early career as a potentially Whiggish intellectual while exploring the intricacies of language and irony.