Gullivers travels-satire w/bibliography Essay Example

tied down to the ground and surrounded by a community of diminutive individuals known as the Lilliputians. This juxtaposition of Gulliver as both a giant and a prisoner exemplifies the presence of irony from the very beginning (Reilly 167). Although surprised by the boldness of these tiny beings who dare to walk upon his body (Swift 16), Gulliver admires their courage. Eventually, he learns their language and negotiates a contract for his freedom. However, this agreement binds him to protect Lilliput from invasion by their rivals from Blefuscu. The Lilliputians recount a story about how, years ago in their land, people used to break eggs on the larger end.However, the current king's grandfather once injured himself while breaking an egg in this way, so the previous king, who was the father of the current king's grandfather, issued a decree that everyone should break eggs from the small end. Some people resisted and sought refuge in Blefuscu. For the past thirty-six months, the two sides have been engaged in war. To Gulliver, this argument seems ridiculous as he can hardly tell the difference between the ends of their eggs. Swift sees Lilliput as a representation of England and Blefuscu as France. Through this event, Swift satirizes the unnecessary quarrels and conflicts between these two nations. Another target of Swift's satire is the peculiar customs of the Lilliputians. The selection process for public office in Lilliput is vastly different from other nations. To be chosen, a man must showcase his rope-dancing skills, with the best rope-dancer receiving the highest office. While no European nation in Swift's time followed such a ludicrous practice, they did not select public

officers based on merit but rather on their ability to bribe officials. Gulliver also describes their custom of burying their dead with their heads upside down. Although the learned among them acknowledge the absurdity of this belief, the practice still persists.At this stage in the story, Gulliver at Tyler has not yet realized that by understanding the ridiculousness of the traditions of the Lilliputians, he may also recognize the absurdity in European customs. Swift employs this to satirize the conditions of Europe. As Gulliver's tale unfolds, the satire takes on a broader focus: humanity as a whole. Gulliver manages to escape from the land of the tiny people and, after briefly staying in England, sets sail again. This time, he finds himself in a strange land where he is the small one, surrounded by things that are significantly larger than normal. Unlike the Lilliputians, he is alone in this world. When he encounters the first inhabitants, he fears for his life, as he believes that larger creatures tend to be more savage. This is just one example of the many criticisms of humanity that Swift's satire presents. While Gulliver was respected in Lilliput due to his size, in Brobdingnag, the land of giants, he is treated as a curiosity and forced to entertain crowds until the royal family becomes aware of his presence. During his time at this court, Gulliver discusses Europe with the king who listens attentively. Gulliver says: "I would hide the flaws and imperfections of my political homeland and highlight its virtues and beauty."In my sincere endeavor during my many discourses with that mighty monarch, my attempt unfortunately did not succeed (Swift

156). Despite his best efforts to speak positively about England, he fails to provide only “her virtues". Instead, much of what he faithfully expresses to the king actually highlights the vice and immorality present in England. This is the lesson the King of Brobdingnag learns from Gulliver’s stories:

"My little friend Grildrig, you have delivered an admirable panegyric upon your country; you have clearly proven that ignorance, idleness, and vice may sometimes be the only qualities necessary for a legislator; and that laws are best explained, interpreted, and applied by those who benefit from perverting them... Based on your own account, I am inclined to believe that you may have managed to avoid many vices of your country. However, from what I have gathered from your narrative... I cannot help but conclude that the majority of your fellow natives are the most harmful race of abhorrent vermin to ever crawl upon the face of the earth" (Swift 153-154).

Gulliver forgives the King for these remarks, understanding that “great allowances should be made for a king who lives in complete seclusion from the rest of the world” (Swift 156).Despite the disagreement of Gulliver, the reader may agree with the king's viewpoint that the parliamentary government is flawed due to the selection process for peers. Swift takes Gulliver on another voyage to further explore and shed light on this matter. Before his third voyage, Gulliver returns home and is surprised to see many small people, which he initially mistakes for pygmies. These people rescue him, but Gulliver's restless spirit drives him to leave home again. This time, he ends up on the floating island of Laputa where he

is unimpressed by the people's mathematical skills but finds them clumsy and slow in other areas. At this point, Swift's own thoughts on humanity become apparent through Gulliver, as he attributes these qualities to a common human frailty. Gulliver does not stay long on Laputa and eventually makes his way to Glubbdubdrib, the Island of Sorcerers.The Governor of this island grants Gulliver the opportunity to listen to various historical figures from both the distant and recent past. In this place, Tyler (5), Gulliver is faced with the negative qualities of human nature. While he had previously recognized these traits, he now confronts them directly as he listens to the great men of the past. Gulliver expresses his disgust with modern history, realizing the low opinion he holds of human wisdom and integrity (Swift 236). Swift, through repeatedly emphasizing the idea of human degeneration and inherent depravity, suggests that man must acknowledge their degeneracy in order to strive for moral regeneration (Lee 119). By this point in the narrative, Gulliver and the reader are both aware of Swift's negative outlook on human nature. It is during Gulliver's fourth journey that Swift's satire peaks, as he delivers his most cutting criticism against not only the government but also human nature itself (Glicksman). In this journey, Gulliver encounters the Houyhnhnms, horse-like creatures with reasoning abilities, as well as the Yahoos, whom Gulliver finds incredibly repulsive and despises instinctively (Swift 263).Swift brings Gulliver into contact with a Yahoo once again, which fills him with horror and astonishment. Gulliver realizes that the only difference between himself and the Yahoo is the Yahoo's lack of cleanliness and clothes; otherwise, a Yahoo

would be indistinguishably human. Swift's satire achieves its goal, showing that the flaws of humanity are overwhelming and will lead to the degradation of humans if allowed to continue. Gulliver's voyages lead him to a greater understanding of human nature and its flaws. As Gulliver interacts with different societies, his perceptions change, resulting in different narrations. Through this, Swift conveys his satire and social commentary. Gulliver's image of humanity remains little changed after the first and second voyage, but steadily declines until the fourth voyage when he meets the Yahoos. Swift presents his commentary on the human condition through Gulliver's Travels (Firth 1919).Glicksman, David (1994). "Gulliver’s Travels." Internet document. Available at http://www.csulb.edu/percept/cac/sigkids/gulliver.html.
Lee, Jae Num (1971). "Swift and Scatological Satire." Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
Levy, Matthew (1995). "Measurement, Irony, and the Grotesque in Gulliver’s Travels." Internet document. Available at http://www.uta.edu/english/dab/baud/fatal/malone.html.
Murry, J. Middleton (1970). "Swift." London: F. Mildner & Sons.
Reilly, Patrick (1986). "The Displaced Person." In Modern Critical Interpretations: Gulliver’s Travels. New York: Yale University Press.
Rodino, Richard H. (1992). "The Study of Gulliver’s Travels, Past and Present." In Critical Approaches to Teaching Swift. New York: AMS Press.
Swift, Jonathan (1983). "Gulliver’s Travels." Mahwah, NJ: Watermill Press.