
Jonathan Swift's 1726 novel 'Gulliver's Travels' is a four-part satirical work that combines adventure with savage wit to mock English customs and the politics of the day. The novel is a parody of the popular travel narrative genre and follows the voyages of Lemuel Gulliver, a surgeon and sea captain, who visits remote regions of the world and encounters people and animals of unusual sizes, behaviours and philosophies.
The novel was an immediate success, and Swift claimed that he wrote it to vex the world rather than divert it. It has since become a classic of English literature and has been adapted into films, plays and theatrical performances.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Publication date | 1726 |
Author | Jonathan Swift |
Genre | Satire, Adventure, Misadventure |
Style | Humorous, First-person narrative |
Themes | Human nature, "Travellers' tales" literary subgenre, European government, Religion, Corruption, Greed, Integrity, Upbringing |
Tone | Savage, Cynical, Manipulative |
Narrative technique | Deadpan |
What You'll Learn
The impact of Gulliver's Travels on English literature
Published in 1726, Gulliver's Travels is a keystone of English literature, contributing to the emergence of the novel as a literary form in English. It is a satirical work by Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift, mocking English customs and the politics of the day. It is widely taught in schools and colleges as a syllabus book across the globe and has achieved the status of a classic of the English language.
Gulliver's Travels is a first-person narrative that is told from the point of view of Lemuel Gulliver, a surgeon and sea captain who visits remote regions of the world. The novel recounts the fantastic voyages of Gulliver to various imaginary lands. The novel exaggerates the absurdity of the people and places the narrator describes, and in doing so, mocks society. The novel is structured as a series of four parts, each describing Gulliver's adventures in different places.
In the first part, Gulliver visits Lilliput, where he is tied up by people who are less than 6 inches tall. He is taken to the capital city and eventually released. The Lilliputians' small size mirrors their small-mindedness. They indulge in ridiculous customs and petty debates. Gulliver assists the Lilliputians to subdue their neighbours the Blefuscudians by stealing their fleet but refuses to reduce Blefuscu to a province of Lilliput, displeasing the King and the royal court. He is charged with treason for, among other crimes, urinating in the capital, though he was putting out a fire. He escapes to Blefuscu, where he finds a normal-sized boat and is able to return to England.
In the second part, Gulliver travels to Brobdingnag, inhabited by a race of giants. A farmer finds Gulliver and delivers him to the farmer's young daughter, Glumdalclitch, who takes care of him. The farmer treats him as a curiosity and exhibits him for money. Gulliver becomes a favourite at court, though the king reacts with contempt when Gulliver recounts the achievements of his own civilisation. Eventually, Gulliver is picked up by an eagle and then rescued at sea by people of his own size.
In the third part, Gulliver visits Laputa, a flying island devoted to the arts of music, mathematics, and astronomy but unable to use them for practical ends. Gulliver also visits Balnibarbi, the kingdom ruled from Laputa, and sees the ruin brought about by the blind pursuit of science without practical results. He visits the Grand Academy of Lagado in Balnibarbi, where great resources and manpower are employed on researching preposterous schemes such as extracting sunbeams from cucumbers. Gulliver also visits Glubbdubdrib, the island of sorcerers, and there he speaks with great men of the past and learns from them the lies of history.
In the fourth part, Gulliver visits the land of the Houyhnhnms, a race of intelligent horses who are cleaner and more rational, communal, and benevolent than the brutish, filthy, greedy, and degenerate humanoid race called Yahoos. Gulliver becomes a member of a horse's household and comes to both admire and emulate the Houyhnhnms and their way of life, rejecting his fellow humans as merely Yahoos endowed with some semblance of reason. However, an Assembly of the Houyhnhnms rules that Gulliver, a Yahoo with some semblance of reason, is a danger to their civilisation and he must leave. Gulliver then returns to England, so disgusted with humanity that he avoids his family and spends time with his horses instead.
Gulliver's Travels combines adventure with savage satire, parodying the then-popular travel narrative genre. It is a masterpiece of political and social satire, with Swift's sharp wit and allegorical storytelling ensuring that the novel continues to be studied and enjoyed for its multifaceted critique of humanity.
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The book's satirical view of the state of European government
The Satirical View of European Government in Gulliver's Travels
In Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift presents a satirical view of the state of European government in the early 18th century. Through the character of Lemuel Gulliver and his fantastic voyages to strange lands, Swift critiques the politics, power structures, and societal norms of his time. The book, which is often read as a biting satire, offers a critical lens through which to view the European government and its shortcomings.
One of the most prominent satirical targets in the book is the absolute power held by monarchs and the corruption that often came with it. In the land of Lilliput, Gulliver finds himself in a country engaged in a long-standing conflict with its neighbor, Blefuscu, over the correct way to crack an egg. This conflict is a clear parody of the religious wars that plagued Europe for centuries, with the triviality of the dispute highlighting the absurdity of such conflicts. Swift is critiquing the way in which absolute monarchs would often use religion to further their own political agendas, leading to unnecessary and destructive wars.
The book also satirizes the arbitrary nature of law and the injustice that can result from it. In Lilliput, Gulliver is initially hailed as a hero for helping to put out a fire, but he soon finds himself in violation of numerous laws and is sentenced to be blinded. The laws themselves are absurd, such as the requirement that all citizens must walk with the left foot first, and the punishment is incredibly harsh for such minor infractions. Swift is commenting on the way in which European governments of the time often had arbitrary and unfair laws that were used to control and oppress the populace.
Another target of Swift's satire is the vanity and self-importance of European leaders. In the land of Brobdingnag, Gulliver is exhibited as a curiosity, and the king takes a particular interest in him. However, the king is quickly disappointed by Gulliver's accounts of European society, which he finds petty, greedy, and ridiculous. Through the king's eyes, Swift is critiquing the way in which European leaders of the time often had an inflated sense of their own importance and a lack of regard for the well-being of their citizens.
The book also explores the theme of exploration and colonialism, presenting a satirical view of European expansionism. Gulliver's final voyage takes him to the land of the Houyhnhnms, a race of intelligent horses who rule over a race of savage humans called Yahoos. This dynamic can be seen as a commentary on the way in which European colonists often viewed themselves as superior to the native populations they encountered, justifying their exploitation and mistreatment. Swift is critiquing the hypocrisy of European colonial powers, who claimed to be civilizing the world even as they engaged in brutal and dehumanizing practices.
Overall, Gulliver's Travels offers a scathing satirical view of the state of European government in the early 18th century. Through his fantastical voyages, Swift highlights the corruption, injustice, and hypocrisy that he saw in the political systems of his time. The book serves as a reminder that power can easily be abused, and that leaders must always be held accountable for their actions. Despite its fantastical elements, Gulliver's Travels remains a relevant and thought-provoking commentary on the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of good governance.
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The author's use of misanthropy
In *Gulliver's Travels*, Jonathan Swift employs misanthropy as a powerful tool to critique and satirize human nature and society. Through the lens of misanthropy, or distrust and contempt for humankind, Swift presents a darkly humorous and scathing commentary on the flaws and follies of humanity. By exaggerating and ridiculing human behavior, he invites readers to reflect on their own shortcomings and the shortcomings of society as a whole.
One of the most prominent ways Swift expresses his misanthropy is through the various races and societies Gulliver encounters on his travels. Each new race serves as a distorted mirror, reflecting and exaggerating certain negative aspects of human nature. For example, the Lilliputians, with their petty disputes and rigid adherence to trivial customs, satirize the absurdity and insignificance of human conflicts and social norms. The Brobdingnagians, on the other hand, tower over Gulliver, emphasizing the smallness and pettiness of human endeavors when viewed from a larger perspective.
Swift's misanthropy also extends to Gulliver himself, who often serves as a vehicle for the author's cynical views. Gulliver's reactions to the strange lands he visits often reveal his own prejudices, arrogance, and self-righteousness. For instance, he initially views the Lilliputians with a sense of superiority, considering them as lesser beings due to their small stature. This reflects a common human tendency to judge and demean others based on superficial differences. As the story progresses, Gulliver's character flaws become more pronounced, and he increasingly embodies the negative aspects of humanity that Swift seeks to critique.
The misanthropic tone of *Gulliver's Travels* is further emphasized through Swift's use of satire and dark humor. By presenting human behavior in an absurd and exaggerated light, Swift invites readers to laugh at the follies and vices of humankind. For example, the war between Lilliput and Blefuscu, sparked by a dispute over the correct end of an egg to crack, ridicules the absurdity and triviality of human conflicts. Swift's satire cuts deep, targeting not only individual flaws but also broader societal issues such as political corruption, religious hypocrisy, and the abuse of power.
Through his misanthropic lens, Swift also explores the theme of power dynamics and the abuse of power. In each land Gulliver visits, he encounters different power structures and observes how power is wielded and abused. The rulers of Lilliput and Blefuscu, for instance, use Gulliver's size to their advantage, exploiting his strength to further their own political agendas. This reflects a cynical view of human nature, suggesting that those in power are often motivated by self-interest and a desire for control rather than the welfare of their people.
Ultimately, Swift's use of misanthropy in *Gulliver's Travels* serves as a powerful tool for social critique and self-reflection. By presenting a distorted and exaggerated reflection of human nature, he invites readers to question their own assumptions, behaviors, and societal norms. The misanthropic tone of the novel encourages a critical examination of the darker aspects of human nature and the potential for abuse, corruption, and folly that exists within all societies.
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The novel's themes of rationality and truth
The theme of rationality in "Gulliver's Travels" is closely tied to the novel's satire of Enlightenment rationalism and its excessive focus on scientific theory at the expense of practical application. This is most evident in Gulliver's visit to Laputa, a flying island devoted to the arts of music, mathematics, and astronomy but unable to use their knowledge for practical ends. The Laputans' ruler, for instance, uses his knowledge of magnetism to move the island and control the people below rather than for any useful purpose.
The novel also explores the theme of truth, often through the lens of deception. Much of the plot is driven by deceptions, such as when Gulliver lies about being Dutch to the Japanese emperor to gain passage to England, or when he conceals his mishaps from Glumdalclitch to maintain his dignity. These deceptions serve to critique the value of honesty and suggest that truth may be more subjective than absolute. For example, while the Houyhnhnms embody a purely honest society, Gulliver encounters other cultures that profess devotion to truth while engaging in deception, like the Lilliputians.
Gulliver's own reliability as a narrator is also called into question, particularly in the novel's climax when he rejects human society and identifies more with the Yahoos than his fellow humans. This calls into question whether Gulliver's account of his travels can be trusted and underscores the theme of the limits of human understanding.
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The influence of Swift's personal life on the story
Jonathan Swift's personal life and worldview had a significant influence on the story of 'Gulliver's Travels'.
Swift's father died seven months before he was born, and his mother returned to England after his birth, leaving him in the care of his uncle. Swift's early life was marked by instability, as he was passed between various caregivers. This may have contributed to the sense of isolation and displacement that pervades 'Gulliver's Travels', with Gulliver himself often feeling alienated and struggling to adjust to new surroundings.
Swift's great-great-grandmother was the sister of Francis Godwin, author of 'The Man in the Moone', which is said to have influenced parts of 'Gulliver's Travels'. Swift's family had several notable literary connections, including his grandmother being the niece of Sir Erasmus Dryden, grandfather of poet John Dryden, and his uncle marrying a daughter of poet and playwright Sir William Davenant, a godson of William Shakespeare. These connections may have influenced Swift's literary aspirations and exposed him to a diverse range of ideas and perspectives.
Swift's political views also shaped the narrative of 'Gulliver's Travels'. He supported the Glorious Revolution and identified as a Whig early in his life, fearing a return to "Catholic monarchy and 'Papist' absolutism". However, he later became disillusioned with the Whigs and began supporting the Tories. Swift's political experiences and observations of human nature informed the satirical elements of 'Gulliver's Travels', as he critiqued the shortcomings of Enlightenment thought and the state of European government.
Swift's disdain for humanity and misanthropy, particularly in the latter part of his life, are well-documented. He wrote in a deadpan, ironic style, and his works are known for their sharp wit and dark humour. This misanthropy is reflected in Gulliver's encounters with the Yahoos, who represent the worst aspects of humanity, and in the Houyhnhnms' disdain for the Yahoos. Swift's personal disgust with humanity may have influenced the tone and perspective of the narrative, as Gulliver struggles to readjust to human society and finds solace only in the company of horses.
Swift's personal life, political views, and worldview, therefore, had a significant influence on the story of 'Gulliver's Travels', shaping its themes, characters, and narrative style.
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