ASSIGNMENT FICTION
Q. “It is a pretended travel book." Discuss this statement with reference
to Gulliver’s Travels by highlighting its parodic features.
Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift is more than just a travelogue; it's a complex work that parodies and
critiques the travel book genre while offering scathing commentary on contemporary society. The idea that it is a
"pretended travel book" refers to Swift's use of the travel narrative form to create a satirical exploration of
human nature, society, and politics.
Swift adopts the language and structure of conventional travel literature, with meticulous descriptions of
imaginary lands and cultures. Gulliver, the protagonist, narrates his journeys in a straightforward and serious
manner, mimicking the style of real travelogues. However, Swift's use of this format serves a parodic purpose,
exposing the absurdity and flaws in the societies he creates which in turn reflect the absurdities of Swift's
contemporary world.
The parodic features of "Gulliver's Travels" are evident throughout the text. In Part I, Gulliver's visit to Lilliput
introduces a society of tiny people, whose petty political squabbles and ridiculous customs lampoon European
politics. Swift uses the Lilliputians' exaggerated sense of self-importance to mock the pretentiousness of
European courts. For instance, the Lilliputians’ practice of choosing officials based on their ability to walk a
tightrope (Part I, Chapter 3) parodies the arbitrary methods by which officials were often selected in Swift's
time.
Part II's Brobdingnagians are giants, and their sheer size underscores the insignificance of humanity's self-
regard. When Gulliver describes English society to the King of Brobdingnag, the King's response ("I cannot but
conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that Nature ever suffered
to crawl upon the surface of the earth.") serves as a pointed criticism of England's imperial ambitions and social
injustices.
Part III's Laputans are obsessed with abstract knowledge, ignoring practicalities, which parodies the Royal
Society and the scientific community's tendency to focus on impractical theories. Swift uses the Laputans'
ridiculous inventions and flawed science to question the blind faith in progress and technology.
Part IV's Houyhnhnms and Yahoos parody the idealized concept of the "noble savage." The Houyhnhnms'
rationality contrasts with the Yahoos' barbarity, and Swift uses this setting to explore the dark side of human
nature. The portrayal of Yahoos as savage and debased creatures critiques the notion of human superiority.
Critical studies support the interpretation of "Gulliver's Travels" as a parody of the travel book genre. In "Swift's
Satire and Parody in Gulliver's Travels," Douglas Lane Patey discusses how Swift uses parody to critique
contemporary society. Paul Cantor, in his essay "Swift's Parody and the Purpose of 'Gulliver's Travels'," argues
that Swift's use of the travelogue format allows him to explore broader philosophical themes through satire and
parody.
"Gulliver's Travels" is indeed a pretended travel book, using the guise of a travel narrative to expose the
absurdities of human society, politics, and science. Swift's parodic features are woven throughout the text,
revealing deeper critiques of the world he lived in and the enduring flaws of human nature.
NAME- RAYYAN RASHID
STUDENT ID 202303678
