Book One, Group A (Adrianna & Kala)

Gulliver's Travels

300th Anniversary Edition

By Johnathan Swift

The Absurdity of it All

Throughout Book I, there are many nonsensical events. In terms of world, Swift chooses to illustrate a ridiculous world. Although perspective is always objective, I think Gulliver doesn't intend on or try to understand his surroundings. He is supposed to be reasonable and logical, yet he is the complete opposite. (Adrianna)

Notable Quotes:

"I was surgeon successively in two ships, and made several voyages, for six years, to the East and West Indies, by which I got some addition to my fortune. My hours of leisure I spent in reading the best authors, ancient and modern, being always provided with a good number of books; and when I was ashore, in observing the manners and dispositions of the people, as well as learning their language; wherein I had a great facility, by the strength of my memory." > Gulliver is supposed to be an intelligent man. Yet, he shows no sign of intelligence. He stays on an island where he can quite literally just walk away and yet he stays, almost being killed.
"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. Very often the chief ministers themselves are commanded to show their skill, and to convince the emperor that they have not lost their faculty." > Swift adds this portion intentionally to hint at the absurdity of the process of getting into governance in England.
"As to the first, you are to understand, that for about seventy moons past there have been two struggling parties in this empire, under the names of Tramecksan and Slamecksan, from the high and low heels on their shoes, by which they distinguish themselves." > Again, more absurdity from Swift. Does this speak to how we view others issues or how pointless war is?

Chapter 2 - The Feigned Truth

In this chapter, Gulliver is in Lilliput. He goes into great detail about going to the bathroom in the hut that he is placed in. He tries to justify his actions and retelling of them by insisting that it is merely his honesty. I think though that it is a measure for him to easily displace his politeness. His depictions of the Lilliput people being vastly smaller than him even further makes the reader question his reliability. (Adrianna)

Chapter 3 - Gentle, Stupid Giant

Here, the Lilliputians are having their tight rope dance traditions and they use Gulliver's handkerchief. They use the tradition to determine who will hold place in the court. While Gulliver is intrigued by this, Swift is clearly criticizing the existing government and its absurd policies that allow perhaps the worst kind of people into office. Another absurdity in the chapter exists in the fact that Gulliver is dead set on not leaving Lilliput. He often highlights the size difference between him and the Lilliput throughout the first few chapters. So the question remains why did Gulliver not just up and leave knowing that the Lilliput couldn't do him any serious harm? (Adrianna)

Chapter 4 - The Ridiculous Feuds

I think Swift alludes to the absurdity of war here. The Tramecksans and the Slamecksans feud because of heel sizes and the Belfuscians feud with the Lilliputians because of the different sides of eggs. Why do such a thing? (Adrianna)

The Character of Gulliver

In the text, Swift develops Gulliver's character in no emotional sense. Gulliver is an intelligent but his perception is dull and gullible. He functions in both a realist and non-realist way. He contrasts against other expectations of explorers. Gulliver is dull, not truly interacting with the excitement of traveling which is unusual. Which can be offered as a critiques of traveling and exploitation as it appears in the text.

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