Gulliver’s Travels

Gullivers Travels is presented as the travelogue of Lemuel Gulliver a ships surgeon who embarks on several voyages to different fantastical lands. Each voyage explores a different aspect of society allowing Swift to satirize various aspects of human nature politics religion and society in general. The novel is divided into four parts each describing Gullivers encounters in different lands: A Voyage to Lilliput: Gulliver finds himself on the island of Lilliput inhabited by tiny people only six inches tall. Here he witnesses the absurdities of politics power struggles and petty rivalries. A Voyage to Brobdingnag: Gulliver arrives in a land where the inhabitants are giants compared to him. Through this encounter Swift satirizes human arrogance highlighting the flaws and pettiness of humanity when seen from a different perspective. A Voyage to Laputa Balnibarbi Luggnagg Glubbdubdrib and Japan: In this section Gulliver explores various lands including the floating island of Laputa. Swift uses this voyage to criticize the follies of academia excessive focus on abstract knowledge and the disconnect between intellectuals and practical affairs. A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Gulliver ends up on an island inhabited by rational horse-like beings called Houyhnhnms and savage human-like creatures called Yahoos. This section serves as a scathing critique of human nature exploring the concepts of reason morality and the corrupting influence of society.