Pre Reading to Gulliver’s Travel

Before delving into Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, understanding its context is crucial to fully appreciate its depth as a biting satire and social commentary. Here are the key things to know:

Historical Context (Early 18th Century England)

• The Enlightenment (Age of Reason): Gulliver’s Travels was published in 1726, firmly within the Enlightenment era. This period emphasized reason, logic, scientific inquiry, and a questioning of traditional authority (religious, political, and social). While many Enlightenment thinkers were optimistic about human progress, Swift, a satirist, often critiques the excesses and perceived follies of this intellectual movement, as seen in his depiction of the Laputans’ absurd scientific pursuits.
• Political Climate: Whigs vs. Tories: This is perhaps the most vital piece of historical context. England was dominated by a fierce political rivalry between two major parties:

• Whigs: Generally supported increased parliamentary power, limited monarchy, and often leaned more towards commercial and financial interests. They were associated with the Hanoverian succession (King George I, who ascended in 1714, was a Whig supporter).
• Tories: Supported a stronger monarchy, the Anglican Church, and traditional land-owning aristocracy. Jonathan Swift was a staunch Tory and felt alienated and embittered by the Whig dominance of his time.
• Satire in the Novel: Swift uses the fictional nations, especially Lilliput, to satirize the pettiness and absurdity of British politics. The “Big-Endians” and “Little-Endians” (who fight over which end to crack an egg) are a clear allegory for religious and political disputes, including the conflict between England and France, and the Whig/Tory divide. The ridiculous methods of selecting public officials (like rope dancing) are a jab at the perceived corruption and triviality of court politics.

• Travel Literature Popularity: The 18th century saw a boom in travel narratives and exploration. Swift leverages this popular genre by presenting Gulliver’s Travels as a seemingly authentic travelogue, only to subvert and parody its conventions. Readers at the time would have been familiar with accounts of newly discovered lands and peoples, making Swift’s fantastical journeys even more impactful as a form of social critique.
• Anglo-Irish Relations: Swift was an Anglo-Irishman and Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. He was deeply concerned with the plight of the Irish under British rule. While not as overtly present as in works like “A Modest Proposal,” there are subtle undertones of his critique of imperial power and its impact on marginalized populations.

Key Themes and Literary Aspects to Consider:

• Satire: Gulliver’s Travels is first and foremost a masterful work of satire. Swift uses irony, hyperbole, understatement, and allegory to critique human nature, political systems, society, and institutions. Be prepared to look beyond the surface adventure story to discern the underlying commentary.
• Human Nature: A central theme is Swift’s often pessimistic view of human nature. Through Gulliver’s encounters with various societies (from the petty Lilliputians to the rational Houyhnhnms and the bestial Yahoos), Swift explores the follies, vices, and absurdities of humanity. He questions whether humans are truly rational beings or if they are prone to corruption and irrationality.
• Reason vs. Instinct: The novel explores the tension between reason and instinct, particularly in the final voyage to the land of the Houyhnhnms (rational horses) and Yahoos (human-like beasts). Swift challenges the Enlightenment’s unqualified faith in reason, suggesting that unchecked reason can also lead to coldness and a lack of empathy, while uncontrolled passions can degrade humanity.
• Perspective and Relativism: Gulliver’s changing perspective is crucial. In Lilliput, he’s a giant; in Brobdingnag, he’s tiny. This shifting scale forces readers to consider how perspective shapes understanding and how “normal” or “civilized” is merely a matter of relative viewpoint.
• Jonathan Swift’s Background: Knowing that Swift was a clergyman, a political writer (initially a Whig, then a staunch Tory), and deeply cynical about human perfectibility helps to understand his motivations and the sharpness of his satire. He wasn’t simply writing an adventure story; he had strong opinions and used his literary genius to express them.

By keeping these points in mind, you’ll be well-equipped to appreciate the layers of meaning, wit, and social commentary that make Gulliver’s Travels a timeless classic.