What is ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ by Jonathan Swift- Unveiling the Satirical World of Lilliput and Brobdingnag
What is Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift about? Gulliver’s Travels, published in 1726, is a satirical novel written by Irish writer Jonathan Swift. The book is a series of four voyages undertaken by Lemuel Gulliver, a ship’s surgeon, and his encounters with various societies and creatures. What makes Gulliver’s Travels unique is its blend of fantasy, satire, and allegory, which allows Swift to critique various aspects of human society, politics, and morality.
The first part of the novel, “A Voyage to Lilliput,” introduces Gulliver to the tiny Lilliputians, who are only six inches tall. Gulliver is initially treated as a giant, but soon becomes a prisoner and is forced to serve as a war hero. This part of the story satirizes the absurdity of human pride and the pettiness of human conflicts. Swift uses the Lilliputians to mock the British political system and the absurdity of political parties.
In the second part, “A Voyage to Brobdingnag,” Gulliver visits the land of the Brobdingnagians, a race of giants. Here, Gulliver is the tiny one, and he is treated as a curiosity and a pet. This part of the story satirizes the arrogance and ignorance of humans, as well as the dangers of overestimating one’s own importance. Swift also uses this part to criticize the treatment of children and the way they are often ignored in adult society.
The third part, “A Voyage to Japan,” is a brief and humorous account of Gulliver’s visit to Japan. This part serves as a satire of the British Empire’s expansionist policies and the absurdity of trying to impose one’s own culture and values on others.
The final part, “A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms,” introduces Gulliver to a race of intelligent horses called Houyhnhnms. The Houyhnhnms are superior beings who are rational, kind, and moral, while the Yahoos, who resemble humans, are irrational, cruel, and greedy. This part of the story satirizes human nature and the flaws of human society, while also questioning the concept of civilization and progress.
In conclusion, Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift is about much more than just the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver. It is a profound and thought-provoking novel that uses satire and allegory to critique various aspects of human society, politics, and morality. The book’s enduring popularity lies in its ability to make readers question their own beliefs and values, and to appreciate the complexities of the human condition.
