In this post, notes of “Unit 3: The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope” from “DSC- 6: 18th Century English Literature” are given which is helpful for the students doing graduation this year.
1. Introduction to Jonathan Swift
Early Life and Education
Jonathan Swift was born on November 30, 1667, in Dublin, Ireland, to an English family. His father died before he was born, so his mother raised him.
Swift went to Trinity College in Dublin, where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. His education helped him learn about languages, philosophy, and literature, which shaped his style of writing.
Literary Career and Major Works
Swift started his writing career by creating pamphlets, essays, and political pieces.
He is famous for his satirical works that criticized British society, politics, and human behavior. His most well-known works include:
- “A Modest Proposal” (1729): A satirical essay suggesting that poor Irish families could sell their children for food and money, aimed at criticizing how Britain exploited Ireland.
- “Gulliver’s Travels” (1726): A novel that makes fun of different aspects of society and politics through the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver.
- “The Drapier’s Letters” (1724-1725): A series of pamphlets against the use of bad coins in Ireland.
Swift was also a clergyman and was Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin from 1713 until his death in 1745.
His works often showed his disappointment with British policies in Ireland and the corruption in the Church and society.
Swift’s Role in 18th Century Literature
Jonathan Swift is seen as one of the best satirists in English literature.
His sharp humor and strong critiques of human nature and social issues made him an important figure in 18th-century writing.
His book “Gulliver’s Travels” helped shape the tradition of social and political satire, influencing many writers after him.
2. Context and Background of Gulliver’s Travels
Historical and Political Context
Satire of British Society and Politics
“Gulliver’s Travels” was written during a time of political problems in Britain, especially under the Whigs and Tories. Swift was very critical of the corruption in British politics and the decline he saw in society.
Through a fantastical travel story, he made fun of politicians, the silliness of political groups, and the hypocrisy of social norms.
The strange political systems in the places Gulliver visits reflect Swift’s own disappointment with politics at that time.
The book, while fictional, reflects real events like the conflicts between England and Ireland, debates about the monarchy, and how the Irish were treated.
Swift’s ironic and dark humor points out the flaws in human nature, especially regarding power and greed.
Inspiration and Source Material
Travel Literature and Utopian Fiction
Swift was inspired by travel stories and utopian fiction when writing “Gulliver’s Travels.”
Travel books were popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, with authors like Sir Thomas More (who wrote Utopia, 1516) and Francis Bacon exploring imaginary societies and distant places.
Swift was also influenced by works like “The Voyages of Peter the Great” and “The Travels of Marco Polo,” which helped create ideas about foreign cultures.
The utopian genre, which depicts perfect societies, was often used by writers to reflect on the problems in their own world.
In “Gulliver’s Travels,” Swift uses this genre to highlight the moral and political issues in Europe by exaggerating the societies Gulliver meets.
The strange portrayals of the Lilliputians, Brobdingnagians, and other fictional societies serve as a critique of European views, questioning ideas of greatness and social order.
Through these influences, Swift not only makes fun of the tradition of utopian literature but also challenges the beliefs of his time.
3. Summary of Gulliver’s Travels
Part I: A Voyage to Lilliput
In the first part of Gulliver’s Travels, Lemuel Gulliver, a ship’s doctor, ends up on Lilliput, an island of tiny people who are only six inches tall.
At first, the Lilliputians capture Gulliver, but he earns their trust by helping them in their fights. They are having a silly argument with the nearby kingdom of Blefuscu about how to crack eggs.
Gulliver is strong and can do amazing things, but he becomes disappointed with the foolishness and dishonesty of the Lilliputian leaders.
Their silly laws and arguments are a joke about British politics and the small issues that cause problems in Europe.
Part II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag
In the second part, Gulliver’s ship crashes again, and he arrives in Brobdingnag, a land of giants where he is now the small one.
The Brobdingnagians are smart, peaceful, and good people. The king of Brobdingnag is interested in Gulliver and his world, but when he learns about the problems in Europe, he criticizes humans for being “monstrous.”
This part makes fun of human pride and wrongdoings, as the king points out the greed, cruelty, and wars in human society.
Gulliver becomes a curiosity for the Brobdingnagians, and he starts to feel ashamed of being human.
Part III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan
In the third part, Gulliver visits several strange places, starting with the floating island of Laputa. The Laputans are obsessed with useless science and math, which makes them neglect their home below, Balnibarbi.
They show the dangers of focusing too much on ideas and not enough on real-life problems. Gulliver also goes to Luggnagg, where he meets the Struldbrugs, who live forever but keep aging, and to Glubbdubdrib, where people can summon the dead through magic.
He ends his journey in Japan, where he sees more problems in European society compared to Eastern customs.
The societies Gulliver visits show the silliness of chasing knowledge without practical use and the bad side of living forever, which is shown as a curse. Swift criticizes the over-focus on reason and science without caring for people’s well-being.
Part IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms
In the last part, Gulliver arrives in the land of the Houyhnhnms, intelligent and peaceful horses living in a well-ordered society.
They are very different from the Yahoos, who are cruel and wild humans that serve the Houyhnhnms. The Houyhnhnms live by reason and goodness, looking down on humans as savage animals.
Gulliver, ashamed of being human, admires the Houyhnhnms and wants to stay with them. But the Houyhnhnms think Gulliver could be a threat and send him away.
He returns to England feeling disappointed and disconnected from humanity.
The final part criticizes human nature the most, showing humans as deeply flawed and not deserving of the Houyhnhnms’ ideal society.
Swift uses the Houyhnhnms to represent reason and goodness, showing that human society, with its many problems, is far from ideal.
4. Characters and Analysis
Lemuel Gulliver
Gulliver is the main character and storyteller. He is curious and educated, but he becomes more and more disappointed with human nature.
His travels show his growing separation from the faults of human society. Throughout the story, Gulliver changes from thinking he is better than others to feeling ashamed and hopeless about humanity’s moral problems.
The Lilliputians
The Lilliputians are small, but their silly behavior and political fights reflect those of European leaders.
They focus on trivial things, like how to break eggs. They show the foolishness and cruelty that can come with power struggles.
The Brobdingnagians
The Brobdingnagians are a giant, moral race who see humans as crude and immoral. The King of Brobdingnag represents fair and ethical leadership, criticizing the bad traits of European society like war and greed. Their view of human civilization highlights its corrupt nature.
The Laputans
The Laputans are fixated on abstract science and math, ignoring real-life needs. They show the risks of intellectual pursuits that forget practical concerns.
Swift criticizes the emphasis on reason and progress without considering the social or moral impact.
The Houyhnhnms
The Houyhnhnms are wise and peaceful horses with a society based on reason and virtue. They symbolize moral and intellectual purity.
Their negative view of humans shows how flawed humanity is, as they see humans (the Yahoos) as cruel and destructive.
Swift uses the Houyhnhnms to critique human nature, showing that an ideal rational society is impossible to achieve.
Yahoos and Other Significant Characters
The Yahoos are wild, human-like creatures that serve the Houyhnhnms. They are immoral and represent the worst aspects of humanity.
The Yahoos show that without reason or morality, humans can be just as bad as animals. Swift uses them to illustrate the decline of human nature.
5. Themes and Motifs
Satire and Critique of Human Nature
A key theme in Gulliver’s Travels is Swift’s criticism of human nature. Through Gulliver’s experiences, Swift reveals the selfishness and corruption in humanity.
The novel critiques not just the political and social issues of Swift’s time but also the overall flaws in human behavior.
Power and Politics
Swift uses the different societies Gulliver visits to mock political power and the absurdities in governance.
From the small fights of the Lilliputians to the strict control of the Laputans, the novel critiques the random nature of political systems and the struggles for power.
Swift also pokes fun at the idea of political greatness and how leaders often care more about appearances than real issues.
Knowledge and Ignorance
The story examines the conflict between knowledge and ignorance, often by showing societies that focus too much on one or the other.
The Laputans’ focus on useless knowledge and the Houyhnhnms’ reason that ignores human flaws critique the idea of intellectualism without considering real-life impacts. Swift suggests that knowledge should be balanced with practical wisdom and moral values.
The Nature of Humanity and Civilization
In the last part, the difference between the Houyhnhnms’ rational society and the corrupt Yahoos (humans) explores what civilization really is. Swift questions if humans can truly grow morally and intellectually or if they are forever flawed.
The ideal Houyhnhnms show what a perfect society could be, but Swift ultimately suggests that such a society is out of reach, revealing a deep skepticism about the future of humanity.
Symbols and Literary Devices in Gulliver’s Travels
1. The Lilliputians and Brobdingnagians:
- Size and Perspective: The small Lilliputians represent small, silly issues, showing how ridiculous political battles can be. The large Brobdingnagians help us see human flaws from a bigger perspective.
- Political Satire: The Lilliputians fuss over small political matters, making fun of real political arguments in Europe. The Brobdingnagians look down on human actions, criticizing European behavior and problems.
2. The Flying Island of Laputa:
- Intellectualism and Detachment: Laputa is home to smart people who are out of touch with reality. They focus too much on theories and ideas, which shows that being overly intellectual can be impractical.
- Social and Political Critique: The rulers of Laputa are selfish and use their knowledge to control others, showing how power can corrupt and harm people.
3. The Houyhnhnms and Yahoos:
- Reason vs. Barbarism: The Houyhnhnms, wise horses, stand for reason and goodness, while the Yahoos, wild human-like creatures, show humanity’s bad traits. This contrast explores the struggle between being rational and savage, suggesting that humans often act more like Yahoos.
- Critique of Human Nature: The Houyhnhnms see humans as irrational and flawed, criticizing human behavior and highlighting selfishness and ignorance over reason.
4. Use of Satire and Irony:
- Satire of Institutions: Gulliver’s Travels mocks politics, religion, science, and human behavior. Swift makes fun of small political fights in Lilliput, silly theories in Laputa, and human flaws seen in the Yahoos.
- Irony and Hypocrisy: Swift uses irony to show how silly human actions can be. Gulliver’s views of his travels often clash with reality, revealing his false sense of superiority and the flaws of those in power.
5. Swift’s Narrative Techniques:
- First-Person Narration: Swift tells the story through Gulliver, making it feel real. However, Gulliver’s unreliable view allows Swift to critique him and humanity’s flaws.
- Hyperbole and Exaggeration: Swift uses exaggeration to highlight the absurdity of Gulliver’s adventures, making human flaws more noticeable.
- Contradiction and Ambiguity: The book often presents confusing situations, urging readers to question Gulliver’s stories. Gulliver’s criticism of humanity and his wish to live with the Houyhnhnms show his struggle to accept his own flaws.
Through these symbols and techniques, Swift offers a strong critique of human nature, society, and the mistakes of civilization.