Gulliver’s Travels in The Classics

Mar 26, 2011 Linda Isakson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classic-literature, british-literature, jonathan-swift

Gullivers Travels is the quintessential social commentary wrapped in the cloak of an adventure tale. The beginning details Gullivers earlier travels and the love he develops for travelling the high seas. After marriage and a small family, Gullivers developing wanderlust eventually drives him out to seek further adventures.

In his first adventure, Gulliver's ship wrecks in a storm and he washes up on the shore of a country called Lilliput, where the inhabitants, despite their 6 inch stature, stil Gullivers Travels is the quintessential social commentary wrapped in the cloak of an adventure tale. The beginning details Gullivers earlier travels and the love he develops for travelling the high seas. After marriage and a small family, Gullivers developing wanderlust eventually drives him out to seek further adventures.

In his first adventure, Gulliver's ship wrecks in a storm and he washes up on the shore of a country called Lilliput, where the inhabitants, despite their 6 inch stature, still manage to hold him hostage. Gulliver becomes a favorite of the King, for a time, assisting his war efforts against their neighboring enemy country, Blefuscu. Eventually, though, the King and his counselors become suspicious of Gulliver, and when he refuses to help the King expand his territory by enslaving the Blefuschians, the King orders Gulliver blinded. Gulliver escapes to his next adventure where he lands in a country of giants called Brobdingnag. Discovered and cared for by a local farmer, Gulliver, after a time, becomes a popular pet of the nobility. His attempts to explain the rest of the world to the King falls on deaf ears, particularly his description of war machines like guns and cannons. One day, an eagle picks up Gullivers little box/house and dumps him back to sea where he is rescued by his normal-sized bretheren. On their way back to England, another misfortunate strikes and Gulliver is marooned on an island in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, he's rescued by a floating country island called Laputa, where music, art and intellectual achievement are prized above all else. Gulliver observes, though, that Laputa's intellectual pursuits are completely ridiculous and unpracticable for everyday use. So much so, that the waste of monetary resources on these pursuits have caused ruin throughout the country. Though he tries to convince the Grand Academy of Ladago of this, it is evident his opinions are unwanted. Gulliver is left at the island of Balnibarbi to await a ship that will take him to Japan. He makes another sidetrip to Glubbdubdrib and Luggnagg, where he meets a race of immortals who are left forever old and are considered dead at 80 years old. After that, Gulliver makes it back home to England to spend time with his family.

After working as a surgeon for a while, the flighty tempress of travel, once again, overwhelms his heart and Gulliver sets out for another adventure. This time he his mutinied and left upon an island, as his ship and crew leave to become pirates. On the unknown island, Gulliver first encounters savages that look vaguely like humans. Then he meets a talking horse who calls himself a Houyhnhm. After many months, Gulliver is able to understand the savages are called Yahoos and are slaves to the peaceful and intelligent race of Houyhnhms, who at first sought to civilize the Yahoo's but eventually gave up and now use them for labor. Gulliver is able to spend many peaceful and thoughtful years living with his Houyhnhm master, who recognizes that he is not a Yahoo. As Gulliver comes to love, respect and cherish the Houyhnhms society and culture, he becomes increasingly loathe to leave these perfect creatures. However, the Council of Houyhnhms, unfortunately, rule that Gulliver is unable to stay in their society because they perceive him as a Yahoo with some reason, and thus a danger to their society. Heartbroken, Gulliver is rescued by a Portuguese ship and brought back to England. At this point, Gulliver sees society though the eyes of the Houyhnhm and views his fellow countryman as Yahoos. In the end, he becomes a recluse and eccentric, spending his days talking with the horses in his stable.

A masterful piece of literature that dramatically highlights our human vices, follies and shortcomings. A recommended read for everyone, as both those seeking adventure and/or thoughtful musings will be satisfied by the epic magnitude of the tale. ...more

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Aug 11, 2009 Michael rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, did-not-finish, 1001-before-you-die, 2009

I have to preface this review by saying that I read for the enjoyment of reading. This book is not a joy to read. I had to put it down. Literally. If it was an animal, I would have killed it and put it out of its misery. Want the page number? 170.

I don’t care if it’s considered one of the greatest satires ever written. Sure, it had some semi-decent bits. It has great ideas, great concepts, and great storylines that were poorly executed.

On a side note. Why did Swift feel the need to give me a su ...more

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