Gulliver's Travels

a fictitious travel book written by Jonathan Swift

Composition and Publication

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Today it is mostly agreed that Gulliver's travels has been written between 1721 and 1725, but there has been some inconsistency before. Early biographies about Jonathan Swift put the composition between the years 1715 and 1720. However this date is not supported by a letter that Swift wrote to one of his friends at the beginning of 1721, telling him that he was momentarily writing a travel book. Concerning the different parts of the novel, Book I and II were written between 1721 and 1723, Book IV in 1723 and Book III between 1724 and 1725. The first publication of Gulliver's travels was on 28 October 1726 under the title Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, stating that it had been written by Lemuel Gulliver, a surgeon and captain.

Reception

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The first edition of Gulliver's travels seems to have been a great sucess as it was sold out in only one week. However it did not take long for the critics to evaluate the story. Throughout the 18th and 19th century the book had a mainly negative image as it was said to attack the dignity of men. In the 19th century the Victorians also had an idea to make the book less provoking by turning it into a shorter version for children. That is why still today many people recognize it as a book for children, although it is actually much more: a parody of travel literature, a political satire, a philosophical tract about humankind.

Structure

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Gulliver´s Travels contains four parts and it is written as a pseudo-authentic travel narrative.

Part 1: A Voyage to Lilliput

This part is subdivided into eight chapters and mainly concerns the world of the little people. The first chapter deals with Gulliver's education and youth. It also describes his first voyages, especially the circumstances that make him discover the land Liliput. In the second chapter the reader hears about how Gulliver is discovered by the inhabitans of Liliput and how they make him a prisoner. The third chapter describes the society of Liliput and how Gulliver gains his freedom. In the fourth chapter Gulliver visits Milendo, the capital of Liliput and has a conversation with a secretary about the affairs of Liliput. Chapter five deals with the war that the Empire of Liliput has with the Empire of Blefuscu. Gulliver supports Liliput in this war and achieves a peace between the two countries. The sixth chapter describes the culture of the people of Liliput and how Gulliver lives in the country. In the seventh chapter Gulliver encounters some problems. A good friend informs him that the emperor plans to accues him of high treason. To escape this accusation and a penalty Gulliver flees to Blefuscu, where he is friendly welcomed. The last chapter describes how Gulliver finds a way to leave Blefuscu and return home.

Part 2: A Voyage to Brobdingnag

The second part is as well subdivided into eight chapters and mostly deals with Gulliver's travels to Brobdignag, the land of the giants. The first chapter explains how Gulliver leaves his family to go on another voyage. During this voyage he discovers a country where he is accidentally left behind and discovered by one of the inhabitans who carries him to his home and holds him captive. Chapter two describes a conversation between Gulliver and the daugther of the farmer who had found him before. The reader also gets to know how Gulliver is taken to the market-town and to the capital of Brobdingnag. The third chapter deals with Gulliver's experiences at the court of the country. He is bought by the queen, taken to court where he got an apartment of his own. Chapter four gives a description of the country, the capital and the palace of the king. The fifth chapter gives an account of some of the adventures that Gulliver experienced. Chapter six is about the relationship between Gulliver and the king and queen of the country. Gulliver makes several inventions, shows his musical abilities and shares information about Europe in favour of the couple. The seventh chapter describes Gulliver's love for his home country and as a contrast the description of the culture of the not so perfect Brobdingnag. The last chapter gives an account of Gulliver's returning to England.

Part 3: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan

The third part is divided into eleventh chapters and describes Gulliver's visits to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdrib, Luggnagg and Japan. Chapter one explains how Gulliver leaves his home for the third time for another voyage, during which he is taken by pyrates and after being abandonded by them, how he arrives at Laputa, a flying island. In the second chapter the reader gets a description of the culture of the people living in Laputa. Chapter three gives an account of the knowledge the Laputians have about the different sciences. The fourth chapter is about Gulliver leaving Laputa and traveling to the capital of Balnibarbi. Chapter five and six give a description of Gulliver's visit to the academy of Lagado. Chapter seven informs the reader about Gulliver's travels to Maldonada and Glubbdubdrib. In chapter eight Gulliver is still in Glubbdubdrib and learns more about the history of the country. In chapter nine Gulliver returns to Maldonada and then travels on to Luggnagg, where he visits the court to meet the king.

Part 4: A Voyage to the country of the Houyhnhnms

The fourth and last part is subdivided into twelf chapters and gives an account of Gulliver's travels to the land of the Houyhnhnms and Yahoos.

References

1. Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver's Travels. Ed. Claude Rawson. Oxford: OUP, 2005.

2. Real, Hermann J./ Vienken, Heinz J. Jonathan Swift: Gulliver's Travels. München: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, 1984.