Absolutism is a political theory that all power should be vested in a ruler or other authority. Hobbes wanted citizens to give up their natural and historical rights to allow a king or queen to rule them. “You have conceded your rights to the government in exchange for your life” (Hobbes) Europe was in a fragile state in the 17th and 18th centuries. Governments were not centralized and there was a lot of violence, such as the English Civil War and the French Wars of Religion. Hobbes' theory of absolute monarchs helped Louis XIV become one of the greatest monarchs in Europe and the world. Although the theory of divine right later failed due to enlightened thinkers and the poor leadership of Louis XVI, it was exactly what France and other nations needed in the 1600s and early 1700s to maintain the unity of their countries. Jonathan Swift was a very different character from Hobbes. ; he was born in Dublin, Ireland, and experienced the mistreatment the Irish faced by the British. For most of her life, Swift devoted herself to Irish affairs. He believed he could solve society's problems with humor, which explains why some of his writings are unusual. But ultimately, Swift believed it was important to provide people with their