Gulliver’s Travels
novel by Swift
Gulliver in Lilliput Lemuel Gulliver in Lilliput, illustration from an edition of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels.
Gulliver’s Travels, four-part satirical work by Anglo-Irish author Jonathan Swift, published anonymously in 1726 as Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. A keystone of English literature, it is one of the books that contributed to the emergence of the novel as a literary form in English. A parody of the then popular travel narrative, Gulliver’s Travels combines adventure with savage satire, mocking English customs and the politics of the day.
Mar 12, 2025, 06:38 IST
Literature
Novels & Short Stories
Gulliver’s Travels
novel by Swift
Also known as: “Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World”
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Last Updated: Feb 10, 2025 • Article History
Gulliver in Lilliput
Gulliver in Lilliput Lemuel Gulliver in Lilliput, illustration from an edition of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels.
Gulliver’s Travels, four-part satirical work by Anglo-Irish author Jonathan Swift, published anonymously in 1726 as Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. A keystone of English literature, it is one of the books that contributed to the emergence of the novel as a literary form in English. A parody of the then popular travel narrative, Gulliver’s Travels combines adventure with savage satire, mocking English customs and the politics of the day.
Summary
Gulliver’s Travels is a first-person narrative that is told from the point of view of Lemuel Gulliver, a surgeon and sea captain who visits remote regions of the world, and it describes four adventures. In the first one, Gulliver is the only survivor of a shipwreck, and he swims to Lilliput, where he is tied up by people who are less than 6 inches (15 cm) tall. He is then taken to the capital city and eventually released. The Lilliputians’ small size mirrors their small-mindedness. They indulge in ridiculous customs and petty debates. Political affiliations, for example, are divided between men who wear high-heeled shoes (symbolic of the English Tories) and those who wear low ones (representing the English Whigs), and court positions are filled by those who are best at rope dancing. Gulliver is asked to help defend Lilliput against the empire of Blefuscu, with which Lilliput is at war over which end of an egg should be broken, this being a matter of religious doctrine.
Gulliver’s Travels is a satirical novel by Jonathan Swift, first published in 1726. The full title of the book is "Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships." It is a classic of English literature and a brilliant satire on human nature, society, and government.
Summary of Gulliver’s Travels
The novel is divided into four parts, each describing the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver, a ship’s surgeon who travels to different fantastical lands:
1. Lilliput – Gulliver finds himself in a land of tiny people, about six inches tall. Their petty politics and conflicts satirize British and European government and society.
2. Brobdingnag – Here, Gulliver is in a land of giants, where he experiences life from the opposite perspective. The King of Brobdingnag criticizes European civilization as corrupt and violent.
3. Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan – This part satirizes scientific advancements and impractical knowledge. Laputans are obsessed with theoretical science but lack practical common sense.
4. Houyhnhnms and Yahoos – Gulliver encounters intelligent, rational horses (Houyhnhnms) and savage, human-like creatures (Yahoos). This section critiques human nature, morality, and the flaws of mankind.
Themes in Gulliver’s Travels
Satire of Politics and Society – Swift criticizes the British government, monarchy, and human pettiness.
Human Nature and Reason vs. Instinct – The contrast between the Houyhnhnms and Yahoos explores the duality of human nature.
Perspective and Relativity – Gulliver’s changing size in different lands symbolizes how perspective influences judgment.
Impact and Legacy
Gulliver’s Travels is more than just a children’s adventure tale; it is a sharp critique of human foolishness and the failings of civilization. The novel remains widely read and studied as a masterpiece of satire and political allegory.