The Gulliver’s Travels

Jonathan Swift (1726)

Utopian Satire
• Swifts’s book Gulliver’s Travels is described as
a satire, a utopian (or more correctly an anti-
utopian) satire.

• Satire is a literary style in which the writer

intends to criticize people, societies,
institutions, or traditions by using irony and
humour, to be more specific by ridiculing
some aspects of the people and by attributing
qualities that are not found in them.
Jonathan Swift published Gulliver’s Travels in
1726. It is written as a classic children’s story
but it contains a rich material for adults; a
material which criticizes 18th century English
and European cultures.
Following the geographic discoveries and the
discovery of new continents which was
already in progress, Swift located its Gulliver’s
Travels onto Australia, the Antipode for
Europeans.
He projected the bizarre and monstrous
creatures onto the continent which provided
the ideal locus for his anti-utopian satire.
The book is a careful parody of Enlightenment
philosophy and religion:
• To see the human race as valuable, virtous and
perfectable
• The idea that human being can decipher all
the misteries of the universe by “rational”
thinking
• The idea that human being can form ideal
societies.
The book is divided into 4 parts all of which
describe a voyage to 4 different societies.
Gulliver’s Travels is a discussion of human
nature, particularly of political man. Each part
focuses on one aspect of human existence and
politics.
Each part of the book is generally associated
with different social aspects to which Swift
want to draw attention.
• PART I: A Voyage to Lilliput (modern political
practice, especially the politics of Britain and
France)
Gulliver is a giant among miniature humans.
Gulliver in Lilliput
• PART II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag (ancient
political practice on something of a Roman or
Spartan model)
• Gulliver is a miniature creature where
everyone and everything is like giants.
Gulliver in Brobdingnag
• PART III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi,
Glubbdubdrib, Luggnagg, and Japan (modern
philosophy in its effect on political practice)
• Without pragmatical use theoretical
understanding is of no use.
• The proof that reason itself cannot improve
life.
Laputa
• PART IV: A Voyage to the Country of the
Houyhnynms (ancient utopian politics used as
a Standard for judging man understood as the
moderns wished to understand him.)
• Intellectual and virtuous horses.
* An ideal of rational existence.
Houyhnynms
Gulliver with Houyhnynms
• All parts of the book contain similarities with
and criticism directed at Swift’s
contemporaries.
• Laputa is peopled largely by modern
philosophers and members of the Royal
Academy.
The narrator and protagonist Gulliver comes
from the society of Yahoos who resemble the
human beings very closely (according to the
Gulliver) with their negative attributes: they
are greedy and materialist (want to possess
valuable stones), elitist and snob, a primitive
being.
The comparison with the Houyhnhnms, the
society which is the closest to the idea of
utopia, reveals Gulliver’s loath for his fellow
Yahoos clearly.
Gulliver among the Houyhnhnms, a non-human
society of “rational horses”, again feels a
loathing for his fellow Yahoos. It is a
condemnation of all human race due to its
bad characteristics.
There he expresses his passionate hatred of the
human race’s pride.
• Gulliver’s Travels identifies the paradoxical
complexity of the Enlightenment project and
its fundamentally utopian nature.
The book raises questions about the fault lines
that developed during the 18th century on
ideas of language, history, perfectibility and
indeed utopianism itself.

• Physical power
• Moral correctness
• Though the narrator of the book Gulliver finds
near-utopias in the Brobdingnagian and
Houyhnhnm societies, Swift concludes in this
book that human nature itself (including
Gulliver’s) prevents the realization of any
utopian society.
This becomes particularly apparent in Part IV.
The society of Houyhnhnms, the only society
close to the utopian ideal, is based on the
strict principle of “Temperance, Industry,
Exercise, and Cleanliness”.
• But this homogenized paradise reveals itself
ultimately as a system of mental and political
slavery, which is seen as a dystopia.
• The Houyhnhnms’ insistence on “the
Perfection of Human Nature” was meant to
parody and perhaps question the possibility
of perfectibility in an Anglican or
philosophical sense.
• Thus constituting a great challenge to the
premises of Modern Europe, including the
Enlightenment principles and capitalist
economy.
• In Book III, Swift parodies Francis Bacon’s
scientific ambitions.
• These are all methods of satire.
• Utopian satire has various forms; one form
looks into the social rituals from outside to
demonstrate its inconsistency, hypocricy or
unreality. (Lilliput).
• Lilliput is full of characters clearly identifiable
as personages in British politics. The Lilliputian
society is essentially the society of Swift’s
England, with its rituals looked at satirically.
 GULLIVER’S TRAVELS
INTO SEVERAL
REMOTE NATIONS OF THE WORLD
The book begins with the letter of Captain
Gulliver to his cousin:
A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN GULLIVER TO HIS
COUSIN SYMPSON.
WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1727.
I hope you will be ready to own publicly,
whenever you shall be called to it, that by
your great and frequent urgency you prevailed
on me to publish a very loose and uncorrect
account of my travels, with directions to hire
some young gentleman of either university to
put them in order, and correct the style, as my
cousin Dampier did, by my advice, in his book
called “A Voyage round the world.”
[….]
• Yahoo as I am, it is well known through
all Houyhnhnmland, that, by the instructions
and example of my illustrious master, I was
able in the compass of two years (although I
confess with the utmost difficulty) to remove
that infernal habit of lying, shuffling,
deceiving, and equivocating, so deeply
rooted in the very souls of all my species;
especially the Europeans.
• I have other complaints to make upon this
vexatious occasion; but I forbear troubling myself
or you any further. I must freely confess, that
since my last return, some corruptions of
my Yahoo nature have revived in me by
conversing with a few of your species, and
particularly those of my own family, by an
unavoidable necessity; else I should never have
attempted so absurd a project as that of
reforming the Yahoo race in this kingdom: But I
have now done with all such visionary schemes
for ever.
• April 2, 1727
A Voyage to Lilliput
The first part of the book “A Voyage to Lilliput”
tells the story of the narrator Captain Gulliver
being shipwrecked and lending on the shore
of the Country of Lilliput.
Lilliputs are men who are very small in size,
Gulliver is like a giant for them.
Gulliver is first taken as a prisoner by Lilliputians
who gradually teach him their language. He
gains their favour, he meets their Emperor.
He even saves the Lilliput country from an
outside invasion by advising them to use a
clever strategy. Therefore a high title of
honour is given to Gulliver.
But, Gulliver, later on, is suspected of treason, of
making alliances with the country of Blefuscu,
the enemy of Lilliputians.
As he learns of a design to accuse him of
treason, he leaves Lilliput and escapes to
Blefuscu.
He later on leaves Blefuscu as well and returns
to his native country.
Swift’s device in Lilliput (and Brobdingnag) is to
take moral and intellectual differences and
project them in physical dimensions. From this
simple change everything else follows.
In working this transformation, he pursues
Aristotle’s suggestion that nature intends the
differences in men’s souls to be reflected in
their bodies and that men whose bodies are
greatly superior, resembling the statues of
gods, would readily be accepted as masters.
• It is noteworthy to realize that he used the
Lilliputians as a metaphor for his
contemporary politicians, the British politics.
As a literary device, Swift’s transformation works
wonders, for literature lives on images and
sensations, appealing to fancy and
imagination. Lilliputs are so small and Gulliver
is so big.
The great majority of men cannot, for lack of
experience, understand the superiority of soul
which is humanly possible. But when that
power is seen in terms of size, all men know
what superiority is and recognize difficulties it
produces for its possessor and those in its
immediate vicinity.
Gulliver’s adventures in Lilliput are largely an
exposition of the problems faced by him and
the Lilliputians because of his bigness.
Gulliver’s disaster in Lilliput occurs because he
is too big for the Lilliputians. Even though both
sides have the best of intention they do not
understand the concerns of each other.
They do not belong together but they are forced
together. He is imprisoned by them and needs
them for his maintenance; they do not know
how to get rid of him and are torn between
fear and distrust, on the one hand, and
dazzling hopes for using him, on the other.
Some characteristics of the Lilliputians that make them
similar to the real societies, specifically England of the
18th century:
1) The Emperor appoints his high officials according to
their skills in rope dancing, not according to their
professional merits. Therefore this is certainly not a
rationally governed state.

• It is an indication that attaining top positions goes

through impressing the boss
• It is a dangerous business, there is the risk of falling
down every moment.
2) The Lilliputians constantly plot against each
other.
3) The Lilliputians and their Emperor are violent.
Even though Gulliver helps them in their war
against Blefuscu the Emperor does not want
to keep taking care of Gulliver and wants to
blind him.
4) Gulliver’s emphasis on the mechanical skills of
the Lilliputians resembles Britain, the country
which will be the pioneering country of the
Industrial Revolution and the banner country
for the capitalist economy.
• Gulliver’s mind also works mechanically (in
finding and proposing functional solutions to
problems) and profit like.
•
CHAPTER I

Captain Gulliver is shipwrecked: He has to swim

to the nearest shore to survive.
He reaches the Country of Lilliput and wakes up
being tied and imprisoned by small men, the
people of Lilliput.
“For my own part, I swam as fortune directed me,
and was pushed forward by wind and tide. I
often let my legs drop, and could feel no bottom;
but when I was almost gone, and able to struggle
no longer, I found myself within my depth; and by
this time the storm was much abated. The
declivity was so small, that I walked near a mile
before I got to the shore, which I conjectured was
about eight o’clock in the evening. I then
advanced forward near half a mile, but could not
discover any sign of houses or inhabitants; at
least I was in so weak a condition, that I did not
observe them.
I was extremely tired, and with that, and the
heat of the weather, and about half a pint of
brandy that I drank as I left the ship, I found
myself much inclined to sleep. I lay down on
the grass, which was very short and soft,
where I slept sounder than ever I remembered
to have done in my life, and, as I reckoned,
about nine hours; for when I awaked, it was
just day-light.
I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir: for,
as I happened to lie on my back, I found my
arms and legs were strongly fastened on each
side to the ground; and my hair, which was
long and thick, tied down in the same
manner. I likewise felt several slender
ligatures across my body, from my arm-pits to
my thighs. I could only look upwards; the sun
began to grow hot, and the light offended my
eyes. I heard a confused noise about me; but
in the posture I lay, could see nothing except
the sky.
In a little time I felt something alive moving on
my left leg, which advancing gently forward
over my breast, came almost up to my chin;
when, bending my eyes downwards as much
as I could, I perceived it to be a human
creature not six inches high, with a bow and
arrow in his hands, and a quiver at his back.
In the mean time, I felt at least forty more of
the same kind (as I conjectured) following the
first. I was in the utmost astonishment, and
roared so loud, that they all ran back in a
fright; and some of them, as I was afterwards
told, were hurt with the falls they got by
leaping from my sides upon the ground.
However, they soon returned, and one of them,
who ventured so far as to get a full sight of my
face, lifting up his hands and eyes by way of
admiration, cried out in a shrill but distinct
voice, Hekinah degul: the others repeated the
same words several times, but then I knew not
what they meant.”
Then the Lilliputians feed him, give him drinks
and construct a giant carriage to carry him to
their center of their country.
“These people are most excellent
mathematicians, and arrived to a great
perfection in mechanics, by the countenance
and encouragement of the emperor, who is a
renowned patron of learning. This prince has
several machines fixed on wheels, for the
carriage of trees and other great weights.
• “ He often builds his largest men of war,
whereof some are nine feet long, in the woods
where the timber grows, and has them carried
on these engines three or four hundred yards
to the sea. Five hundred carpenters and
engineers were immediately set at work to
prepare the greatest engine they had. It was a
frame of wood raised three inches from the
ground, about seven feet long, and four wide,
moving upon twenty-two wheels. ”
• They arrive at a temple and they set Gulliver
free to be able to walk in a small area:
“At the place where the carriage stopped there
stood an ancient temple, esteemed to be the
largest in the whole kingdom; which, having
been polluted some years before by an
unnatural murder, was, according to the zeal
of those people, looked upon as profane, and
therefore had been applied to common use,
and all the ornaments and furniture carried
away. ”
“It was reckoned that above a hundred
thousand inhabitants came out of the town
upon the same errand; and, in spite of my
guards, I believe there could not be fewer
than ten thousand at several times, who
mounted my body by the help of ladders.
• But a proclamation was soon issued, to forbid
it upon pain of death. When the workmen
found it was impossible for me to break loose,
they cut all the strings that bound me;
whereupon I rose up, with as melancholy a
disposition as ever I had in my life. But the
noise and astonishment of the people, at
seeing me rise and walk, are not to be
expressed.”
CHAPTER II
The Emperor of Lilliput, together with several
members of the nobility, comses to see
Gulliver.
Some Lilliputians start teaching Gulliver their
language.
They seem to favor him due to his mild nature
but search his pockets and take his sword and
pistol from him.
CHAPTER III
“My gentleness and good behaviour had gained
so far on the emperor and his court, and
indeed upon the army and people in general,
that I began to conceive hopes of getting my
liberty in a short time. I took all possible
methods to cultivate this favourable
disposition. The natives came, by degrees, to
be less apprehensive of any danger from me.
• I would sometimes lie down, and let five or six
of them dance on my hand; and at last the
boys and girls would venture to come and play
at hide-and-seek in my hair. I had now made a
good progress in understanding and speaking
the language. The emperor had a mind one
day to entertain me with several of the
country shows, wherein they exceed all
nations I have known, both for dexterity and
magnificence.”
After a while as Lilliputians grew confident
about him, he starts entertaining the Emperor
by shows designed in collaboration with
Lilliputians:
“The horses of the army, and those of the royal
stables, having been daily led before me, were
no longer shy, but would come up to my very
feet without starting. The riders would leap
them over my hand, as I held it on the ground;
and one of the emperor’s huntsmen, upon a
large courser, took my foot, shoe and all;
which was indeed a prodigious leap. I had the
good fortune to divert the emperor one day
after a very extraordinary manner.
• I desired he would order several sticks of two
feet high, and the thickness of an ordinary
cane, to be brought me; whereupon his
majesty commanded the master of his woods
to give directions accordingly; and the next
morning six woodmen arrived with as many
carriages, drawn by eight horses to each.
• I took nine of these sticks, and fixing them
firmly in the ground in a quadrangular figure,
two feet and a half square, I took four other
sticks, and tied them parallel at each corner,
about two feet from the ground; then I
fastened my handkerchief to the nine sticks
that stood erect; and extended it on all sides,
till it was tight as the top of a drum; and the
four parallel sticks, rising about five inches
higher than the handkerchief, served as ledges
on each side.
• When I had finished my work, I desired the
emperor to let a troop of his best horses
twenty-four in number, come and exercise
upon this plain. His majesty approved of the
proposal, and I took them up, one by one, in
my hands, ready mounted and armed, with
the proper officers to exercise them.”
After several adventures with the Lilliputians,
Gulliver asks for his liberty and on several
conditions he is set free to leave the country:
“I had sent so many memorials and petitions for
my liberty, that his majesty at length
mentioned the matter, first in the cabinet, and
then in a full council; where it was opposed by
none, except Skyresh Bolgolam, who was
pleased, without any provocation, to be my
mortal enemy. But it was carried against him
by the whole board, and confirmed by the
emperor. ”
• That minister was galbet, or admiral of the
realm, very much in his master’s confidence,
and a person well versed in affairs, but of a
morose and sour complexion. However, he
was at length persuaded to comply; but
prevailed that the articles and conditions
upon which I should be set free, and to which
I must swear, should be drawn up by himself.
Lilliputians are small in size but they have a
complicated system and hierarchy of
organizing their society.
They don’t trust Gulliver, they don’t trust
anyone.
They are greedy and jealous creatures. Their
initial distrust of Gulliver is easily replaced by
their eagerness in being one of the rope
dancers to perform with Gulliver.
• Swift uses the Lilliputians to show that English
politicians were bloody-minded and
treacherous. In detail, he records the bloody
and cruel methods that the Lilliputians plan to
use to kill Gulliver.
• He also comments ironically on the mercy,
decency, generosity, and justice of kings. The
Lilliputian emperor, out of mercy, plans to
blind and starve Gulliver.