The Tale of a Tub

"The Tale of a Tub" is a satirical work by Jonathan Swift that critiques religious and cultural abuses of his time. It uses the metaphor of a person’s “tub” (a washbasin) to represent different religious perspectives—Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Puritanism—highlighting how superficial adherence, corruption, and inconsistency undermine true faith and understanding. Through humor and irony, Swift criticizes the pretensions and hypocrisies inherent in organized religion, urging readers to seek genuine principles rather than superficial appearances. The novella also comments on the frivolity and excesses of contemporary society.