Jeff Mcnulty

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Gulliver’s Travels

by Jonathan Swift

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Jeff Mcnulty said: " It is probably important to note that I am reading this because I have to; Gulliver's Travels is the first assigned reading for my English Lit class this semester. Satire, to be honest, really doesn't do anything for me. Granted, it stands the test o It is probably important to note that I am reading this because I have to; Gulliver's Travels is the first assigned reading for my English Lit class this semester. Satire, to be honest, really doesn't do anything for me. Granted, it stands the test of time in that many of the issues he brings up are still relevant/applicable nearly three hundred years after its publication--religious sectarianism, nationalist arrogance and corruption among the elite and ruling classes being perhaps the most obvious. (Aren't these things ambient in our culture though? Is it that surprising?) I commend the writing for its subtlety, wit and confidence (Swift is truly an interesting type of renegade) but the long-winded, meticulous way in which he details the course of events bores the hell out of me. Gulliver's Travels has moments of profound insight but I would much rather re-read Thomas More's Utopia.

A couple of things I wanted to note include the following:

1. In a strangely ironic way, Swift wrote the book with the intent of destroying the "novel" which was becoming very popular during his time. This is implicit throughout the book--which I now hesitate to refer to as a novel. The extent to which Gulliver chronicles his experiences is designed to mirror Swift's opinion of this form of writing.
2. Gulliver is an incredibly well-crafted caricature of the middle class. Similarly, the societies he encounters quite powerfully represent the flaws of a culture that is still largely extant.

Personally, reading Gulliver's Travels is a lot like what I image listening to an entire opera would be like. The complexity, creative vision and depth are admirable but the whole production is just... well, not my bag.

If you enjoy the type of literature that was coming out of Europe during this time, I'd say give it a read. (Hell, most advocates of British literature would insist upon it) Further, if you are really into detail (ie: Moby Dick) this may be something for you.

I suppose it is only fair to credit the length of this review to my complete unwillingness to continue reading this book. It is sitting on my bed with something like forty pages yet unread. ...more "

Sep 04, 2011 06:52PM · see review