Introduction-"Gulliver's Travels"

1. Swift, Jonathan. "Gulliver's Travels." The Norton Anthology: English Literature. Ed. Julia Reidhead. 8th ed. Vol. 1. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2006. 1831-2055.

www.sparknotes.com/lit/gulliver/

2. "Gulliver's Travels", written by Jonathan Swift in the 18th Century is a satire. Its purpose was to exaggerate the government and politics of the 1700s. At that time the government was divided into two parties, the Torys (much like our Republicans) and the Whigs (Democrats). Swift writes "Gulliver's Travels" (sounding similar to "gullible") beginning with Gulliver finding himself shipwrecked on an island. This island is the land of Lilliputs who are tiny people no more than six inches tall. The next land he finds himself on is the land of Brobdingnags who were giants. Next, he finds himself with the Yahoos (beasts) and the Houyhnhnms (horse like creatures). Each group of people represents the government and the people. Gulliver represented "every man" and the other tribes represented the government and the power they have over us, whether they should or not.

3. This text was extremely interesting. It was unlike anything I had ever read before and the metaphors were phenomenal. The way Swift used each different group of people as a representative of how we let people control us was very controversial, yet intriguing.

4. I would compare "Gulliver's Travels" to Anthony Hecht's "Spring Break". Again, this may be somewhat of a far fetched comparison, but it has similarities. Hecht speaks of a younger person as viewing older people as ancient and boring. Swift's point with the different types of people was that "every man" views the government as something that they may not be in reality. Yes, they have power, but he believed that we let them have more power that we should. Ultimately, Hecht is suggesting that even though older people may not be viewed as fun and exciting to a younger generation, they are needed because they have wisdom and information that the younger generation needs in order to grow. Swift suggests that we lose perspective when we let the government rule our thoughts and minds. The reality is, in my opinion, we need the government in order to keep our world functioning properly, much like the younger generation needs the older one in order to gain wisdom and knowledge for their future.