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Parody
Definition of Satire
Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians, are often the subject of satire, but satirists can take... read full definition
Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians, are often the subject of... read full definition
Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians... read full definition
Preface 2: “A Letter from Captain Gulliver to his Cousin Sympson”
Explanation and Analysis—The Travellers' Tale:
During the 18th century, British audiences were eager to hear about cultures and people in the lands where explorers were claiming colonies for England. As such, diaries and first-person accounts by explorers such as Captain James Cook and William Dampier were immensely popular. Though advertised as truthful, many of these accounts contained embellishments and falsehoods. Gulliver's Travels is a parody of this "traveller's tales" literary sub-genre, and it satirizes the dishonesty of these accounts as well as the gullibility of English readers. What's more, the novel contains numerous allusions to contemporary works in this genre.
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Book 1, Chapter 4
Explanation and Analysis—Tories vs. Whigs:
In Book 1, Chapter 4 of Gulliver's Travels, Gulliver receives a visit from Redresal, the principal secretary of Lilliput, who explains certain aspects of Lilliputian politics. He describes the struggle between the nation's two major political parties: the Tramecksan, who wear high-heeled shoes, and the Slamecksan, who wear shoes with low heels. This superficial difference is the cause of fierce conflict, and it's ultimately a satirical allegory of the conflict between the Tory and Whig parties in England:
Unlock with LitCharts A+The Animosities between these two Parties run so high, that they will neither eat nor drink, nor talk with each other.
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Explanation and Analysis—Big-Endian/Little-Endian:
In Book 1, Chapter 4 of Gulliver's Travels, Swift satirizes a well-known British conflict through the use of an allegory. In this section, Gulliver learns that the ancient conflict between the nations of Lilliput and Blefuscu is rooted in a petty disagreement over whether to break eggs on the bigger or smaller end. Redresal, the principal secretary of Lilliput, explains that the struggle began when the great-grandfather of the current Lilliputian emperor passed a controversial law commanding all of his subjects to break their eggs on the small end:
Unlock with LitCharts A+The people so highly resented this Law, that our Histories tell us there have been six Rebellions raised on that account; wherein one Emperor lost his Life, and another his Crown.
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Explanation and Analysis—English Laws:
Throughout Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift contains a number of allegories that satirize the English legal system, and the novel contains many veiled references to English acts and laws.
In Book 1, Chapter 4, Gulliver learns about the historical conflict between Lilliput and Blefuscu, which is intended as an allegory for the conflict between England and France. The source of this conflict is a disagreement over whether to break eggs on the bigger or smaller end, which informs many aspects of law and politics:
Unlock with LitCharts A+[T]he Books of the Big-Endians have been long forbidden, and the whole Party rendered incapable by Law of Holding Employments.
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Book 1, Chapter 7
Explanation and Analysis—Biblical Allusions:
In addition to his work as an author and satirist, Jonathan Swift was also an Anglican cleric who served as Dean of Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. He was the author of numerous sermons, prayers, and works of religious scholarship, and his extensive knowledge of religious doctrine informed much of his satirical writing. Swift's preoccupation with religion is also present in Gulliver's Travels, which contains numerous biblical allusions (some of which are rather ironic).
In Book 1, Chapter 7, Gulliver learns of a plot by the Lilliputians to blind him. The Lilliputians declare:
Unlock with LitCharts A+"That the loss of your Eyes would be no impediment to your bodily strength, by which you might still be useful to his Majesty."
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Book 2, Chapter 7
Explanation and Analysis—Biblical Allusions:
In addition to his work as an author and satirist, Jonathan Swift was also an Anglican cleric who served as Dean of Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. He was the author of numerous sermons, prayers, and works of religious scholarship, and his extensive knowledge of religious doctrine informed much of his satirical writing. Swift's preoccupation with religion is also present in Gulliver's Travels, which contains numerous biblical allusions (some of which are rather ironic).
In Book 1, Chapter 7, Gulliver learns of a plot by the Lilliputians to blind him. The Lilliputians declare:
Unlock with LitCharts A+"That the loss of your Eyes would be no impediment to your bodily strength, by which you might still be useful to his Majesty."
Related Themes:
Book 3, Chapter 2
Explanation and Analysis—Science and Philosophy:
Gulliver's Travels contains several allusions to 18th-century concepts in science and philosophy. Jonathan Swift uses these allusions to satirize European scientists and philosophers, whom he depicts as out of touch with the real world.
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Book 3, Chapter 3
Explanation and Analysis—English Laws:
Throughout Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift contains a number of allegories that satirize the English legal system, and the novel contains many veiled references to English acts and laws.
In Book 1, Chapter 4, Gulliver learns about the historical conflict between Lilliput and Blefuscu, which is intended as an allegory for the conflict between England and France. The source of this conflict is a disagreement over whether to break eggs on the bigger or smaller end, which informs many aspects of law and politics:
Unlock with LitCharts A+[T]he Books of the Big-Endians have been long forbidden, and the whole Party rendered incapable by Law of Holding Employments.
Related Themes:
Book 3, Chapter 5
Explanation and Analysis—The Royal Academy:
Book 3, Chapter 5 of Gulliver's Travels, in which Gulliver visits the Academy of Lagado, is intended as an extended satirical allegory for the actions of the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge. During the 18th century, the scientists of the Royal Society were viewed as supreme arbiters of good science and held a large amount of power and prestige. Jonathan Swift, by contrast, viewed these scientists as out of touch with the real world and questioned whether their work had any practical use.
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Book 3, Chapter 6
Explanation and Analysis—Bishop Atterbury:
Book 3 of Gulliver's Travels contains numerous satirical allegories for the 1722 trial of English politician and bishop Francis Atterbury. Atterbury was an influential member of the Tory party and enjoyed the favor of Queen Anne, but he was treated with distrust by the Whig party after King George I took the throne. In 1721, Atterbury led a conspiracy to depose George I and install James Francis Edward Stuart, the son of the exiled King James II, on the throne of Great Britain. The plot was discovered before it could come to fruition, and although there was insufficient evidence to convict Atterbury of treason, he was exiled.
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Book 4, Chapter 5
Explanation and Analysis—Theological Conflict:
Throughout Gulliver's Travels, Swift alludes to and satirizes several debates in Christian theology. In Book 4, Chapter 5, for example, Gulliver attempts to explain to the Master Horse the various religious conflicts that have led to war in Europe:
Unlock with LitCharts A+"[W]hether Flesh be Bread, or Bread be Flesh; whether the Juice of a certain Berry be Blood or Wine; whether Whistling be a Vice or a Virtue; whether it be better to kiss a Post, or to throw it into the Fire; what is the best Colour for a Coat, whether is be Black, White, Red or Grey; and whether it should be long or short, narrow or wide, dirty or clean, with many more. [...]"
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