Gulliver’s Travels | Jonathan Swift | Cliff Note Books

“Gulliver’s Travels,” written by Jonathan Swift in 1726, is a satirical novel that chronicles the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver, a ship’s surgeon who embarks on a series of voyages to fantastical lands. The novel is divided into four parts, each recounting a different journey.

1. Lilliput: Gulliver is shipwrecked and finds himself on the island of Lilliput, inhabited by tiny people called Lilliputians, who are only six inches tall. Gulliver’s immense size relative to the Lilliputians leads to various comical and precarious situations. Through the Lilliputians’ petty squabbles and political intrigue, Swift satirizes the absurdity of human nature and politics.
2. Brobdingnag: Gulliver is stranded in the land of Brobdingnag, where he encounters giants who are twelve times larger than humans. He is treated as a curiosity by the Brobdingnagians and learns about their society, which is morally superior to European society. In this section, Swift critiques human vanity and pride by contrasting Gulliver’s small stature and the giants’ moral superiority.
3. Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan: Gulliver visits several islands, including Laputa, a floating island inhabited by intellectuals who are obsessed with abstract and impractical theories. Through their absurd inventions and convoluted ideas, Swift lampoons the excesses of scientific inquiry and the impracticality of the then-modern scientific approach.
4. Country of the Houyhnhnms: Gulliver’s last voyage takes him to the land of the Houyhnhnms, a race of intelligent, noble horses who rule over the brutish, human-like Yahoos. Gulliver admires the Houyhnhnms’ rational and peaceful society but is eventually expelled because of his physical resemblance to the Yahoos. This section offers Swift’s most biting satire, critiquing the inherent flaws and corruptions of human nature.

Throughout “Gulliver’s Travels,” Swift employs satire to highlight the follies and vices of human society, illustrating his skepticism towards human progress and civilization.

AUTHOR

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) was an Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, poet, and cleric, best known for his works “Gulliver’s Travels,” “A Modest Proposal,” and “A Tale of a Tub.” He is considered one of the foremost prose satirists in the English language and a key figure in the development of modern satire.

Swift was born in Dublin, Ireland, on November 30, 1667, to Jonathan Swift Sr. and Abigail Erick Swift. His father died before he was born, and his mother struggled financially. As a result, Swift was raised by relatives who provided for his education. He attended Kilkenny College and later Trinity College, Dublin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1686.

In 1689, Swift moved to England and began working as a secretary for Sir William Temple, a prominent diplomat and essayist. It was during this time that Swift began his writing career, composing poetry and essays. In 1694, he returned to Ireland to pursue a career in the Church of Ireland, obtaining a Bachelor of Divinity degree and being ordained as a priest in 1695.

Swift held various positions within the church, including prebendary of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and later dean of St. Patrick’s. Despite his clerical career, Swift continued to write and gained a reputation for his biting satire and wit. His early works, such as “A Tale of a Tub” (1704) and “The Battle of the Books” (1704), showcased his literary prowess and set the stage for his later masterpieces.

In 1726, Swift published his most famous work, “Gulliver’s Travels,” which was both a commercial success and a significant literary achievement. The novel is a biting satire on human nature, society, and politics, cleverly disguised as a travelogue.

Swift’s other notable work, “A Modest Proposal” (1729), is a satirical essay in which he suggests that the impoverished Irish could alleviate their financial struggles by selling their children as food for the wealthy. The essay is a powerful critique of the British government’s indifference to the suffering of the Irish people during the 18th century.

Throughout his life, Swift was involved in Irish politics and was an advocate for Irish rights, using his writing to criticize British rule and highlight the plight of the Irish people. He became a national hero in Ireland for his efforts.

Jonathan Swift’s health declined in his later years, and he eventually suffered from various ailments, including deafness, vertigo, and cognitive decline. He passed away on October 19, 1745, in Dublin. Today, Swift remains a significant figure in the literary world, and his works continue to be studied and admired for their satirical brilliance and social commentary.

CHARACTERS

1. Lilliput:

• Lemuel Gulliver: The protagonist and narrator of the novel, Gulliver is an adventurous ship’s surgeon who embarks on a series of fantastical journeys.
• Emperor of Lilliput: The ruler of Lilliput, he is initially impressed by Gulliver but later becomes wary of him due to his size and potential threat.
• Reldresal: A Lilliputian government official and Gulliver’s friend, he informs Gulliver about Lilliput’s political situation and the ongoing conflict with neighboring Blefuscu.
• Flimnap: The Lilliputian treasurer who opposes Gulliver and seeks to have him executed or blinded.

2. Brobdingnag:

• King of Brobdingnag: A wise and benevolent ruler who engages in intellectual conversations with Gulliver, providing a contrasting perspective on human society and morality.
• Queen of Brobdingnag: She takes a liking to Gulliver and protects him, even appointing a governess, Glumdalclitch, to take care of him.
• Glumdalclitch: A young Brobdingnagian girl who becomes Gulliver’s caretaker and friend. She teaches him about Brobdingnagian customs and helps him navigate their world.

3. Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan:

• Lord Munodi: The governor of the province of Balnibarbi, he is a sensible and practical man who hosts Gulliver and explains the absurdity of the Laputian approach to science and agriculture.
• King of Laputa: The ruler of the floating island of Laputa, he is preoccupied with abstract mathematics and music, representing the impracticality of the Laputian society.
• The Struldbrugs: A group of immortal beings in Luggnagg who are cursed with eternal aging and infirmity. They serve as a critique of the human desire for immortality.
• The Sorcerer: The leader of Glubbdubdrib, he helps Gulliver communicate with famous historical figures, providing insight into the true nature of historical events and human behavior.

4. Country of the Houyhnhnms:

• The Houyhnhnms: A race of intelligent, rational, and noble horses who live in a well-ordered society. They represent an idealized version of humanity, devoid of the vices and flaws that plague human societies.
• The Yahoos: A brutish, human-like species that serves as a foil to the Houyhnhnms. They embody the worst aspects of human nature and are ruled by their base instincts.
• The Master Houyhnhnm: Gulliver’s host and friend during his stay in the country of the Houyhnhnms. He engages in philosophical conversations with Gulliver, teaching him about their society and values.

Throughout the novel, these characters help illustrate the various themes and satirical elements that Swift employs to critique human society, politics, and the nature of humanity itself.

QUOTES

1. “My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire: I was the third of five sons.”
2. “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.”
3. “Undoubtedly, philosophers are in the right when they tell us that nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison.”
4. “Ingratitude is among them a capital crime, as we read it to have been in some other countries: for they reason thus; that whoever makes ill returns to his benefactor, must needs be a common enemy to the rest of mankind, from whom he has received no obligation.”
5. “I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.”
6. “The king was struck with horror at the description I had given of those terrible engines, and the proposal I had made.”
7. “I cannot but laugh at the little animal’s foolish and wicked reasoning.”
8. “I said, there was a society of men among us, bred up from their youth in the art of proving, by words multiplied for the purpose, that white is black, and black is white, according as they are paid.”
9. “He had been eight years upon a project for extracting sunbeams out of cucumbers, which were to be put in phials hermetically sealed, and let out to warm the air in raw inclement summers.”
10. “The knowledge I had in mathematics, gave me great assistance in acquiring their phraseology, which depended much upon that science, and music; and in the latter I was not unskilled.”
11. “When a great office is vacant, either by death or disgrace (which often happens,) five or six of those candidates petition the emperor to entertain his majesty and the court with a dance on the rope; and whoever jumps the highest, without falling, succeeds in the office.”
12. “For these people are as illiterate as women, having been taught only to read and write their own language, and to cast accounts.”
13. “It is a maxim among these lawyers, that whatever has been done before, may legally be done again: and therefore they take special care to record all the decisions formerly made against common justice and the general reason of mankind.”
14. “That which gave me most uneasiness among these maids of honour, when my nurse carried me to visit them, was, to see them use me without any manner of ceremony, like a creature who had no sort of consequence.”
15. “The queen was so far from being offended at this undistinguishing freedom, that she took the advertisement kindly, and put it into practice with the commonwealth.”
16. “I told him, although it were the custom of our learned in Europe to steal inventions from each other, and to give the honour where it was not due, yet I would take such caution, that he should have the full satisfaction of his invention.”
17. “I described, as well as I could, our way of riding; the shape and use of a bridle, a saddle, a spur, and a whip; of harness and wheels.”
18. “That the Yahoos were a species of animals utterly incapable of amendment by precept or example: and so it hath proved; for, instead of reason, we are governed by humour, by caprice and passion.”

19. “It was now very plain that I must be a perfect Yahoo; but I differed very much from them in the frame of my body, as well as in the capacity of my mind; because I was formed out of a different mould.”
20. “My reconcilement to the Yahoo-kind in general might not be so difficult if they would be content with those vices and follies only which nature hath entitled them to.”

THEMES

1. Human Nature: The novel examines the inherent flaws and vices of human nature, such as greed, pride, and vanity. Through Gulliver’s encounters with different societies, Swift reveals the dark aspects of human behavior and emphasizes the need for self-awareness and self-improvement.
2. Society and Politics: Swift satirizes the political landscape of his time, targeting political corruption, arbitrary power structures, and human folly. By exaggerating the petty conflicts and absurd customs of the various societies Gulliver encounters, Swift critiques the institutions and values of his contemporary world.
3. The Limits of Knowledge: The novel explores the pursuit of knowledge and the dangers of intellectual pride. Swift critiques the then-modern scientific approach, exemplified by the impractical pursuits of the Laputians. The story highlights the importance of practical knowledge and common sense over abstract theories.
4. Colonialism and Imperialism: Gulliver’s encounters with different civilizations, including the Lilliputians and Brobdingnagians, offer a critique of colonialism and imperialism. The novel examines the dynamics of power, cultural superiority, and the consequences of imposing one’s beliefs and values on others.
5. Satire and Irony: “Gulliver’s Travels” is a masterful work of satire, using irony and humor to expose and criticize the absurdities and follies of human society. By employing fantastical settings and characters, Swift is able to hold a mirror up to humanity, revealing its flaws and challenging readers to question their own beliefs and actions.
6. Perspective and Relativism: The novel plays with perspective and scale, emphasizing the relativity of human experiences and values. Gulliver’s changing size in relation to the inhabitants of the lands he visits highlights the importance of context and the subjective nature of human perception.
7. Individualism and Conformity: Gulliver’s experiences with various societies raise questions about the role of the individual in society and the pressures to conform. Throughout his journeys, Gulliver faces the challenge of balancing his own beliefs and values with those of the societies he encounters, prompting readers to consider the importance of individuality and the limits of societal expectations.

SYMBOLLISM

1. Size and Scale: The different sizes of Gulliver and the inhabitants of the lands he visits symbolize power dynamics and the relativity of human perception. In Lilliput, Gulliver’s immense size relative to the Lilliputians highlights the absurdity of human conflicts and political struggles. In Brobdingnag, Gulliver’s smallness emphasizes his vulnerability and the moral superiority of the giants.
2. The Floating Island of Laputa: The island of Laputa, suspended in the air, symbolizes the detachment of intellectual pursuits from practical reality. The Laputians’ obsession with abstract theories and impractical inventions represents the dangers of intellectual pride and the limitations of human knowledge.
3. The Yahoos: The Yahoos, a brutish and depraved human-like species, symbolize the worst aspects of human nature. Their base instincts, lack of reason, and moral degradation serve as a stark contrast to the noble Houyhnhnms and a critique of humanity’s innate vices.
4. The Houyhnhnms: The noble and rational horse-like creatures represent an idealized version of humanity, free from the flaws and corruptions that plague human societies. They symbolize the potential for reason and virtue to govern human behavior, highlighting the contrast between human potential and actual behavior.
5. The Struldbrugs: The immortal but eternally aging Struldbrugs symbolize the human desire for immortality and the futility of such a pursuit. Their wretched existence serves as a cautionary tale against the pursuit of eternal life without considering its consequences.
6. The Ropes and Dance in Lilliput: The competition for political power in Lilliput, where candidates perform a dance on a tightrope, symbolizes the arbitrary nature of political systems and the triviality of human ambition.
7. Gulliver’s Travels Itself: The fictional travelogue format of the novel serves as a symbol of the human desire for adventure, discovery, and self-improvement. However, the fantastical settings and exaggerated situations also serve to highlight the flawed nature of humanity and the limitations of human understanding.

DISCUSSION POINTS IN STUDYING

When studying “Gulliver’s Travels,” there are several key discussion points to consider in order to better understand and appreciate the novel. These points include:

1. Satire and Social Commentary: Explore how Swift uses satire to critique various aspects of human society, politics, and behavior. Discuss the effectiveness of satire as a tool for social commentary and the impact of the novel’s humor and irony on the reader’s understanding of the author’s message.
2. Human Nature: Discuss the portrayal of human nature in the novel, focusing on the contrasts between the various societies Gulliver encounters and their respective virtues and vices. Consider what Swift suggests about the innate characteristics of humans and the potential for self-improvement or self-awareness.
3. Perspective and Relativism: Analyze the role of perspective and scale in the novel, paying particular attention to how Gulliver’s changing size in relation to the societies he visits affects his understanding of himself and the world around him. Discuss the implications of the novel’s exploration of relativism for the reader’s perception of human society and values.
4. The Limits of Knowledge: Examine Swift’s critique of the pursuit of knowledge, particularly in the context of the scientific and intellectual developments of his time. Discuss the novel’s commentary on the dangers of intellectual pride and the importance of practical knowledge and common sense.
5. Colonialism and Imperialism: Explore the novel’s treatment of colonialism and imperialism through Gulliver’s encounters with different civilizations. Discuss Swift’s portrayal of power dynamics, cultural superiority, and the consequences of imposing one’s beliefs and values on others.
6. Individualism and Conformity: Analyze the theme of individualism and conformity in the novel, focusing on Gulliver’s struggle to balance his own beliefs and values with those of the societies he encounters. Consider the importance of individuality and the limits of societal expectations in the context of the novel.
7. Symbolism: Discuss the various symbols used throughout “Gulliver’s Travels” and their significance in conveying deeper meanings and enhancing the novel’s satirical elements.

By engaging with these key discussion points, students can gain a deeper understanding of the themes, ideas, and social commentary present in “Gulliver’s Travels” and appreciate the novel’s enduring relevance and appeal.

SUMMARIES

Part One

Part One of “Gulliver’s Travels,” titled “A Voyage to Lilliput,” recounts the journey of Lemuel Gulliver, an English ship’s surgeon, who finds himself shipwrecked on the shores of a strange island called Lilliput. The inhabitants of Lilliput are tiny people, only six inches tall, and they capture the giant Gulliver upon his arrival.

Gulliver is initially treated with curiosity and fascination by the Lilliputians, who take him to their capital, Mildendo. The Emperor of Lilliput, intrigued by Gulliver’s size and potential use for the state, offers Gulliver his freedom in exchange for his help in their ongoing war against the neighboring island nation of Blefuscu. The conflict between the two nations is based on a trivial disagreement over the proper way to crack open a boiled egg.

Gulliver agrees to the Emperor’s terms and assists the Lilliputians in their war, using his immense size to capture Blefuscu’s naval fleet and bring it to Lilliput, thus preventing further conflict. Despite his valuable help, Gulliver unintentionally offends the Lilliputian court with his behavior, which they perceive as crude and inappropriate. His efforts to extinguish a fire at the royal palace by urinating on it, though successful, especially incense the court.

The Lilliputian government becomes increasingly wary of Gulliver’s presence, recognizing the potential threat he poses due to his size and strength. Flimnap, the Lilliputian treasurer, leads a faction that seeks to have Gulliver executed or blinded as a way to neutralize the perceived danger. However, Gulliver’s friend, Reldresal, a Lilliputian government official, warns him of the plot against him.

Informed of the conspiracy, Gulliver decides to escape Lilliput and make his way to Blefuscu. Once there, he encounters a boat of regular human size, which he repairs and uses to set sail back to England, bringing an end to his first voyage.

In Part One, Swift uses the fantastical setting and satirical elements to critique human society, politics, and morality, highlighting the absurdity and pettiness of human conflicts and the arbitrary nature of power structures.

Part Two

Part Two of “Gulliver’s Travels,” titled “A Voyage to Brobdingnag,” follows the protagonist, Lemuel Gulliver, as he embarks on his second voyage. This time, he finds himself in the land of Brobdingnag, a country inhabited by giants, where the average human is 72 feet tall. In contrast to Lilliput, Gulliver is now the tiny outsider in this enormous world.

Gulliver is discovered by a farmer, who initially treats him as a curiosity and exhibits him for money. Eventually, the farmer sells Gulliver to the Queen of Brobdingnag, who takes a liking to him and ensures his safety by appointing a young girl, Glumdalclitch, to be his caretaker. Gulliver becomes a favorite at the royal court, engaging in conversations with the King and Queen about European customs, politics, and morality.

The King of Brobdingnag is a wise and benevolent ruler who listens to Gulliver’s descriptions of English society and politics with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. He provides an alternative perspective on human nature, highlighting the violence, greed, and corruption that exist in Gulliver’s homeland. This contrast between the two societies serves as a critique of European culture and its moral shortcomings.

Throughout his stay in Brobdingnag, Gulliver faces various challenges and dangers due to his small size, including encounters with enormous insects, domestic animals, and the mischievous behavior of the Queen’s dwarf. These experiences emphasize Gulliver’s vulnerability and dependence on the kindness of others for his survival.

Eventually, Gulliver’s time in Brobdingnag comes to an abrupt end when an eagle snatches the small portable room in which he resides and drops it into the sea. Gulliver is rescued by sailors aboard an English ship and returns home to England, concluding his second voyage.

In Part Two, Swift continues his satirical exploration of human society and morality, using the contrasting perspectives and experiences of Gulliver in Brobdingnag to reveal the darker aspects of European culture and the limitations of human understanding.

Part Three

Part Three of “Gulliver’s Travels,” titled “A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan,” recounts Gulliver’s third voyage, during which he visits several islands, each with its own unique characteristics and inhabitants.

First, Gulliver arrives at the flying island of Laputa, where the inhabitants are preoccupied with mathematics, astronomy, and music, often to the point of neglecting practical matters. Their obsession with abstract knowledge and the impractical inventions they create serve as a satirical commentary on the limitations of human knowledge and the danger of intellectual pride.

Gulliver then travels to Balnibarbi, a land ruled by the Laputians, where he visits the Academy of Projectors, an institution dedicated to impractical and absurd scientific pursuits. The projects Gulliver encounters, such as extracting sunbeams from cucumbers and softening marble for use in pillows, ridicule the misguided priorities of the scientific community and the pursuit of knowledge without practical application.

On the island of Luggnagg, Gulliver encounters the Struldbrugs, a group of immortals who age without the prospect of death. Their miserable existence serves as a cautionary tale against the pursuit of eternal life without considering its consequences, as they are unable to enjoy the benefits of their immortality due to the infirmities of old age.

In Glubbdubdrib, the island of sorcerers, Gulliver is given the opportunity to summon and converse with famous historical figures, such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. Through these conversations, Gulliver learns that history is often distorted and that the accomplishments and virtues of great figures are frequently exaggerated.

Gulliver’s final stop in Part Three is Japan, where he is briefly detained before managing to secure passage back to England. This brief encounter with Japan, a real-world location, contrasts with the fantastical settings of the other islands, grounding the narrative in reality and emphasizing the satirical commentary on contemporary society.

Part Three of “Gulliver’s Travels” continues Swift’s satirical examination of human society, politics, and knowledge, using the diverse settings and characters Gulliver encounters to reveal the absurdities and limitations of human behavior and understanding.

Part Four

Part Four of “Gulliver’s Travels,” titled “A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms,” describes Gulliver’s final voyage, during which he discovers a land inhabited by two distinct species: the noble and rational Houyhnhnms, horse-like creatures, and the brutish, human-like Yahoos.

Upon arrival, Gulliver is initially mistaken for a Yahoo due to his physical resemblance to them, but the Houyhnhnms soon realize he possesses reason and intelligence unlike the Yahoos. Gulliver is taken in by a Houyhnhnm master, who treats him kindly and engages him in conversations about their society, customs, and beliefs. The Houyhnhnms are governed by reason and lack the negative emotions and vices that plague human society. They are incapable of lying and live in harmony with nature and one another.

As Gulliver learns more about the Houyhnhnms and their way of life, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with humanity and its flaws. The Yahoos, on the other hand, embody the worst aspects of human nature, displaying greed, violence, and base instincts. Gulliver’s encounters with the Yahoos serve as a satirical critique of human behavior and morality.

After several years living among the Houyhnhnms, Gulliver is eventually banished from their society, as the Houyhnhnms believe he could corrupt their way of life due to his similarities to the Yahoos. Devastated by his expulsion, Gulliver builds a small boat and leaves the island.

Gulliver is eventually rescued by a Portuguese ship and its kind captain, Don Pedro de Mendez, who helps restore his faith in humanity. However, Gulliver remains profoundly affected by his experiences with the Houyhnhnms and struggles to reconcile his newfound perspective with his life in England. He becomes a misanthrope, unable to fully reintegrate into human society and viewing his fellow humans as inherently flawed Yahoos.

Part Four of “Gulliver’s Travels” serves as a powerful critique of human society and morality, using the contrasting characters of the Houyhnhnms and Yahoos to expose the darker aspects of human nature and the potential for reason and virtue to govern human behavior.