Gulliver’s Travels was first published in 1726 and received great acclaim. At the time, Jonathan Swift was already known as a satirist.
Background of Gulliver's Travels
He had written several controversial works, which mocked the British government. Swift was also known for writing about religious and artistic debates. However, Gulliver’s Travels became his best selling work by far.
Gulliver’s Travels is often viewed as an amusing and frivolous children’s novel. However, it has not escaped Swift’s acerbic wit. In Gulliver’s Travels, Swift satirises monarchs, wars and political quarrels, which were all based on actual events of the early eighteenth century.
Eventually, Gulliver comes to observe all of human nature as deplorable. Throughout his travels Gulliver represents the common man, which enables the reader to relate to him. He is often bemused by the strange customs and petty grievances which may be familiar to a contemporary reader.
Therefore, perhaps unsurprisingly, Swift earned a reputation as a misanthrope and a cynic. However, this did not effect the success of the book and it became incredibly popular.
Given the immense success of the story, there were many other authors who wished to ride the crest of Swift’s wave. Subsequently, there was an influx of sequels and travel guides written by various authors wishing to cash in on the popularity of Gulliver.
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was born, in 1667, in Dublin, Ireland. He studied at Trinity College and, in 1688, moved to England. He spent his adult life moving between England and Ireland, where he eventually became Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral. It was during his time in London that he began his political writings.
The Battle of the Books and Tale of a Tub, were among Swifts first published works. They were satirical in nature and mocked philosophical and religious debates of the period. Subsequently, Swift became an increasingly important political figure.
In Ireland he was seen as a patriotic hero after writing scathing articles concerning the British treatment of Ireland.
Despite several close relationships, Swift remained unmarried. It is known that he suffered with mental health problems and during the last years of his life spent extended periods in a lunatic asylum. He died in 1745 and was buried in Dublin.
Analysis of Gulliver's Travels
Gulliver’s Travels is arguably a prototype for the modern novel, it is sometimes viewed as a work of science fiction and, as stated above, as a children’s story. The story’s ability to appeal on many levels may well account for its popularity.
Swift certainly appears to be dealing with themes of a very adult nature. For example, he is questioning the inherent corruptibility of human beings. He is also examining the religious leadership and governments of European states.
With this in mind, there are parallels to be drawn between Gulliver’s Travels and Voltaire’s Candide, which was written some thirty years later. Both Voltaire and Swift have the same gritty satire and cynicism of human nature.
Gulliver’s Travels has been adapted for theatrical, radio and television broadcasts on several occasions and in countries worldwide. There have also been several musical interpretations of the work, including Telemann’s “Gulliver Suite” and No More Kings’ “Leaving Lilliput”.
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