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Gulliver's Travels and ''A Modest Proposal''
Enduring Literature Illuminated by Practical Scholarship
By turns a children's fantasy and a social satire for adults, Gulliver's Travels is one of the most popular adventure tales of all time. "A Modest Proposal," also an imaginative, enduring work, is political lampoonery at its finest.
This Enriched Classic Edition includes:
A concise introduction that gives readers important background information
A chronology of the author's life and work
A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context
An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations
Detailed explanatory notes
Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work
Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction
A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience
Enriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full potential.
Series edited by Cynthia Brantley Johnson
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 26, 2005
41 people are currently reading
2,254 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Swift
4,506 books2,058 followersJonathan Swift was an Anglo-Irish satirist, author, essayist, political pamphleteer (first for the Whigs, then for the Tories), poet, and Anglican cleric who became Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, hence his common sobriquet, "Dean Swift".
Swift is remembered for works such as A Tale of a Tub (1704), An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity (1712), Gulliver's Travels (1726), and A Modest Proposal (1729). He is regarded by the Encyclopædia Britannica as the foremost prose satirist in the English language. He originally published all of his works under pseudonyms—such as Lemuel Gulliver, Isaac Bickerstaff, M.B. Drapier—or anonymously. He was a master of two styles of satire, the Horatian and Juvenalian styles.
His deadpan, ironic writing style, particularly in A Modest Proposal, has led to such satire being subsequently termed "Swiftian".
Swift is remembered for works such as A Tale of a Tub (1704), An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity (1712), Gulliver's Travels (1726), and A Modest Proposal (1729). He is regarded by the Encyclopædia Britannica as the foremost prose satirist in the English language. He originally published all of his works under pseudonyms—such as Lemuel Gulliver, Isaac Bickerstaff, M.B. Drapier—or anonymously. He was a master of two styles of satire, the Horatian and Juvenalian styles.
His deadpan, ironic writing style, particularly in A Modest Proposal, has led to such satire being subsequently termed "Swiftian".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
December 12, 2018
Swift is a fan-freaking-tastic satirical writer. A Modest Proposal was hilarious, so long as you understand it is indeed a satire. Gulliver's Travels is also satirical, and I found it fun tying the satire back to what was going on in politics when Swift wrote this. Even if you don't understand how the piece is satirical, you can still gather the themes and lessons throughout. Worth a read for sure!
January 28, 2019
Just couldn't get into it
April 19, 2023
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift – One of The Top 100 Books of All Time https://poemeglume.blogspot.com/2023/... compiled with the luminaries of our age
9 out of 10
Gulliver’s Travels has much more significance than a children’s tale wherein this protagonist arrives in the land of the Lilliputians, then becomes a guest in Brobdingnag, and we have the mirth of looking down on little creatures and see the main character moving about among giants…evidently, there are passages - perhaps the whole book without editing and adaptation - that are not suitable for the under age, seeing as there are erotic encounters and I remember vividly how I found the (sexual) intimacy that the Man has with a female giant so exciting and sensual that this is still stored in the brain’s data base in burning letters http://realini.blogspot.com/2015/04/g...
Various adaptations have been made for cinema and television, one with the illustrious Peter O Toole – but a shadow of the glory days of Lawrence of Arabia http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/07/l... one of the best five motion pictures in history – another with Jack Black in the title role – it was because the actor had a good profile, image in countries around the world, with studios concerned with the box office takings overseas, they had just started to use talent that sells well in China, Russia, etc. – but there they insist on comedy.
The symbols are serious nevertheless, with the hero having to deal with small creatures, where one is inclined to feel privileged and use the power…the example of Trump comes to mind, a sort of ‘Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time/Into this breathing world, scarce half made up’ ghoul that recalls Richard the Third, he is ‘half made up’ in a metaphorical sense, however obese he is (and liars gave him the false medical certificates to boast) and as for Richard III we have a distorted image of him
We learn from one of the greatest mystery novels, The Daughter of Time by Josephine Fey, that the myth of Richard III as one of the most notorious monsters of history has to give way http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/10/t... to the true historical events, the king has not killed his nephews, and he was a decent human being, not the cruel tyrant described in the play of William Shakespeare – how resplendent those lines are ‘now is the winter of our discontent/ turned into glorious summer by this son of York/ And all the clouds that loured upon our house/ In the deep bosom of the ocean buried’ – alas, most of humanity will ‘remember’ him as a criminal
Now how about Trump – he was arrested and arraigned yesterday in New York, fingerprinted and presented with thirty-four counts, felony charges if that is the technical form – the worst president in history and a danger that could come back to haunt us in 2024…some will say what do you care, if you are so far away, but this was the leader of the free world, and if he returns, he will destroy NATO (maybe the world) and allow Russia to complete its invasion of Ukraine and probably the rest of the old Soviet Union and why not, take the old Warsaw pact under its rule again, with an idiot in the White House
That is one symbol that I see in Gulliver, and that we can use in the real world, you have someone like the Orange Felon and insurrectionist in chief – he has had last night and on so many occasions the song recorded by the Jail Chorus, cave men arrested and jailed for what they did on the Capitol hill on January 6, 2021 played to him…he is on the recording, he does that, as he threatens the prosecutor with a baseball bat in a posting, his equally deranged son posts photos of the daughter of the judge, it is unbelievable what the greatest democracy in the world has come to, if this was its leader, and potential president in 2024, embraced by so many congressmen from the GOP, then it is Lilliput we will live in.
China of course tries to be Brobdingnag, the realm of the giants, or anyway, the land that is getting bigger, swallowing Taiwan, also islands which are not theirs in the South China Sea, that belong to Japan, just like they did with Tibet – it looks as if we will have to be Lilliputians in a future that is controlled by Xi and his sycophants – you should read The Economist in general, but the one of this week in particular, to find more about the clash between the USA and the rising empire that supports the invading Putin in Ukraine and will introduce a new world order where big dogs aka large countries bully and occupy the small ones, with China as alpha dog, playing the Chili Palmer character from Get Shorty http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/04/g... ‘I’m the one telling you how it is’
Chili was charming, Xi is not, it is an excellent idea to read Why The West Rules For Now http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/10/w... by great Ian Morris and find about Why China is still not on top – the history could have been different, the conquistadores could have met the Chinese in the Americas, for they had built huge vessels, more than capable to cross oceans with large crews (Columbus, Vespucci and the others had tiny boats when compared with the Chinese ships) only their rulers had decided to forbid long journeys – besides, you get so much insight into Singularity, the future and…exquisite humor All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us…Brought peace…Oh, peace…SHUT UP’ extract from Monty Python’s Life of Brian
On more personal levels, one could feel Lilliputian in everyday life – as when you pay for services at a club and now there is a piece from the experience one has in the land of local Brobdingna, where employees act like giants, showing contempt for customers (oops, not that, guests, the folks behave as if they own the place and those coming in are intruders, never mind the subscription) these are just a few lines from the complaint that I will send the Boys From Brazil, Insha’Allah ‘The saunas do not work…The outdoor Jacuzzi has been closed since November for the 'cold season' but it was not opened in March or April...
The inside Jacuzzi is on and off, with a timetable that is not followed, and then it had periods when it was out of order, with all the above out of use as well
As if this was not enough, some employees and security guard use the Jacuzzi, sauna and/or use the gym, just as those venues are under pressure, with limited seating, malfunctioned or out or order assets...
When management is told about all this pandemonium, the failures are blamed on...the clients, hotel, higher management that does not provide the funds for repairs, missing batteries, etc. ‘ http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u...
Written by Realini the Revolutionary – the evidence is in Newsweek the link to the article about the fall of Ceausescu in 1989 is here http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
9 out of 10
Gulliver’s Travels has much more significance than a children’s tale wherein this protagonist arrives in the land of the Lilliputians, then becomes a guest in Brobdingnag, and we have the mirth of looking down on little creatures and see the main character moving about among giants…evidently, there are passages - perhaps the whole book without editing and adaptation - that are not suitable for the under age, seeing as there are erotic encounters and I remember vividly how I found the (sexual) intimacy that the Man has with a female giant so exciting and sensual that this is still stored in the brain’s data base in burning letters http://realini.blogspot.com/2015/04/g...
Various adaptations have been made for cinema and television, one with the illustrious Peter O Toole – but a shadow of the glory days of Lawrence of Arabia http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/07/l... one of the best five motion pictures in history – another with Jack Black in the title role – it was because the actor had a good profile, image in countries around the world, with studios concerned with the box office takings overseas, they had just started to use talent that sells well in China, Russia, etc. – but there they insist on comedy.
The symbols are serious nevertheless, with the hero having to deal with small creatures, where one is inclined to feel privileged and use the power…the example of Trump comes to mind, a sort of ‘Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time/Into this breathing world, scarce half made up’ ghoul that recalls Richard the Third, he is ‘half made up’ in a metaphorical sense, however obese he is (and liars gave him the false medical certificates to boast) and as for Richard III we have a distorted image of him
We learn from one of the greatest mystery novels, The Daughter of Time by Josephine Fey, that the myth of Richard III as one of the most notorious monsters of history has to give way http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/10/t... to the true historical events, the king has not killed his nephews, and he was a decent human being, not the cruel tyrant described in the play of William Shakespeare – how resplendent those lines are ‘now is the winter of our discontent/ turned into glorious summer by this son of York/ And all the clouds that loured upon our house/ In the deep bosom of the ocean buried’ – alas, most of humanity will ‘remember’ him as a criminal
Now how about Trump – he was arrested and arraigned yesterday in New York, fingerprinted and presented with thirty-four counts, felony charges if that is the technical form – the worst president in history and a danger that could come back to haunt us in 2024…some will say what do you care, if you are so far away, but this was the leader of the free world, and if he returns, he will destroy NATO (maybe the world) and allow Russia to complete its invasion of Ukraine and probably the rest of the old Soviet Union and why not, take the old Warsaw pact under its rule again, with an idiot in the White House
That is one symbol that I see in Gulliver, and that we can use in the real world, you have someone like the Orange Felon and insurrectionist in chief – he has had last night and on so many occasions the song recorded by the Jail Chorus, cave men arrested and jailed for what they did on the Capitol hill on January 6, 2021 played to him…he is on the recording, he does that, as he threatens the prosecutor with a baseball bat in a posting, his equally deranged son posts photos of the daughter of the judge, it is unbelievable what the greatest democracy in the world has come to, if this was its leader, and potential president in 2024, embraced by so many congressmen from the GOP, then it is Lilliput we will live in.
China of course tries to be Brobdingnag, the realm of the giants, or anyway, the land that is getting bigger, swallowing Taiwan, also islands which are not theirs in the South China Sea, that belong to Japan, just like they did with Tibet – it looks as if we will have to be Lilliputians in a future that is controlled by Xi and his sycophants – you should read The Economist in general, but the one of this week in particular, to find more about the clash between the USA and the rising empire that supports the invading Putin in Ukraine and will introduce a new world order where big dogs aka large countries bully and occupy the small ones, with China as alpha dog, playing the Chili Palmer character from Get Shorty http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/04/g... ‘I’m the one telling you how it is’
Chili was charming, Xi is not, it is an excellent idea to read Why The West Rules For Now http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/10/w... by great Ian Morris and find about Why China is still not on top – the history could have been different, the conquistadores could have met the Chinese in the Americas, for they had built huge vessels, more than capable to cross oceans with large crews (Columbus, Vespucci and the others had tiny boats when compared with the Chinese ships) only their rulers had decided to forbid long journeys – besides, you get so much insight into Singularity, the future and…exquisite humor All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us…Brought peace…Oh, peace…SHUT UP’ extract from Monty Python’s Life of Brian
On more personal levels, one could feel Lilliputian in everyday life – as when you pay for services at a club and now there is a piece from the experience one has in the land of local Brobdingna, where employees act like giants, showing contempt for customers (oops, not that, guests, the folks behave as if they own the place and those coming in are intruders, never mind the subscription) these are just a few lines from the complaint that I will send the Boys From Brazil, Insha’Allah ‘The saunas do not work…The outdoor Jacuzzi has been closed since November for the 'cold season' but it was not opened in March or April...
The inside Jacuzzi is on and off, with a timetable that is not followed, and then it had periods when it was out of order, with all the above out of use as well
As if this was not enough, some employees and security guard use the Jacuzzi, sauna and/or use the gym, just as those venues are under pressure, with limited seating, malfunctioned or out or order assets...
When management is told about all this pandemonium, the failures are blamed on...the clients, hotel, higher management that does not provide the funds for repairs, missing batteries, etc. ‘ http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u...
Written by Realini the Revolutionary – the evidence is in Newsweek the link to the article about the fall of Ceausescu in 1989 is here http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
January 1, 2009
I really had to read this about three times to get the whole political underscore and social commentary. When you're 8 years old, it just seems like a fun fairytale, but reading it multiple times in high school and college, it struck different chords each time. It's actually a pretty smart critique on life dressed up in an interesting bunch of journeys to different lands.
A Modest Proposal, was hilarious, in my opinion. Reading it once as-is and then again keeping in mind the satirical nature of the piece was pretty amusing. Who says old English literature has to be boring?
A Modest Proposal, was hilarious, in my opinion. Reading it once as-is and then again keeping in mind the satirical nature of the piece was pretty amusing. Who says old English literature has to be boring?
February 6, 2008
Two masterpieces that had me believing I could become a satirist in no time. Many newspapers had to endure my letters of which none were printed. (But I can't put the blame on Swift for making it look so easy.)
November 25, 2015
در یوم بیست و پنش شهر نوامبر سنهٔ دو هزار و پانزده، قرائتیده شد، ریویو تا ساعاتی بلکم هم ایامی دگر
و من اللح طوفیغ
و من اللح طوفیغ
May 17, 2023
I knew Jonathan Swift is famous for his satire. I remember reading an essay of his suggesting that the people of England eat their children to decrease the population. Gulliver's Travels was even stranger. We've all heard about Lilliput, but there were other countries equally odd that he visits in this book. This novel was as tedious as tedious can be. That's why it took me forever to finish it. I love classics, but this isn't one I would even recommend let alone keep. I will say his stay with the intelligent horses and his commentary were spot on. Humans can be foolish and behave irrationally, but there is still a lot of good in everyone. I did like his comments on the excesses of government which even in this century we see a lot of.
October 11, 2022
I truly tried to enjoy this book numerous times and each reading brought more pain and suffering to my brain. The main character is easy to dislike, his attitude towards the people and things he encounters only cements his feelings of superiority- even when proven that he isn’t as grand as he originally thought.
I understand the sarcastic messages, but they come off as pompous rather than humorous… I strongly disliked this book. I had to fight with myself to finish it, and that has never happened to me before. 2 stars instead of 1 star because it seems cruel to score that low based off my personal preference for writing styles.
I understand the sarcastic messages, but they come off as pompous rather than humorous… I strongly disliked this book. I had to fight with myself to finish it, and that has never happened to me before. 2 stars instead of 1 star because it seems cruel to score that low based off my personal preference for writing styles.
April 4, 2023
The novel belonging to Augustan age (18th century) is a masterpiece of Menippean satire. The novel is written in simple words and in commons form but the the hidden ironic writing style is wroth appreciation. Travel adventures of Lemuel Gulliver is worth reading once,
May 18, 2023
I'm not a friend of satires. Meh. I thought that I had read it before. Most of the book I thought I hadn't, but the last section was familiar. It's a classic and I can see why, but I wasn't into it.
A Modest Proposal was hilarious, if you can keep in mind that it's a satire.
A Modest Proposal was hilarious, if you can keep in mind that it's a satire.
August 16, 2024
Entretenida obra archiconocida en donde nos relata las distintas islas que conoció Gulliver en su famosos viajes.
Primero nos relata sus aventuras en la isla de los liliputienses, pequeños personajes de unos 15 centímetros de altura estimo, que creo que no es necesario recordar.
Después llegará a la isla de los gigantes, llamados si no recuerdo mal brobdingnagianos, en donde fue rescatado por una familia labradora y la hija de esta familia lo llevará a la ciudad en donde será presentado a los reyes, siendo la Reina su especial protectora.
Seguidamente conocerá la isla de Laputa. Una isla que flota en el aire. Aquí nos cuenta cómo viven su habitantes y nos relata también a otros habilitantes de otras islas con las que los de Laputa tienen relación y vasallaje.
Por último nos narra sus aventuras en la isla de los caballos, llamados houyhnhnms. Animales inteligentes que hablan entre ellos. Gulliver consigue aprender su idioma y se queda prendado con la forma de ver el mundo de los caballos, hasta tal punto que no desea irse de la isla, aunque al final, por distintas circunstacias tiene que partir. En esta isla los caballos tienen animales de servidumbre que son exactamente iguales a los humanos, pero llenos de pelo y con garras en las manos y pies. Son seres salvajes y agresivos, llamados yahoo (al parecer se baraja la posibilidad de que el buscador yahoo se inspirara al tomar su nombre en estos personajes). Estos yahoo son usados como sirvientes pues no son más que bestias que no tienen entendimiento. De hecho Gulliver es tomado siempre como un yahoo pero con cierto grado de raciocinio y con capacidad para aprender el idioma de los caballos.
La obra se lee muy bien y es muy entretenida. Me ha llamado la atención las páginas finales en la que nos dice que los yahoo de Europa "...desembarcan para robar y saquear; encuentran un pueblo sencillo, que los recibe con amabilidad; toman de él formal posesión en nombre de su rey;... asesinan a dos o tres docenas de indígenas; se llevan por la fuerza una pareja como muestra... se envían barcos a la primera oportunidad; se expulsan o se destruyen a los naturales; se tortura a sus príncipes para obligarlos a declarar dónde tienen su oro; se concede plena autorización para todo acto de inhumanidad y lascivia... Y esta execrable cuadrilla de carniceros, empleada en esta piadosa expedición, es una colonia moderna, enviada para convertir y civilizar a un pueblo idólatra y bárbaro." Los párrafos están copiados literal del libro. Lo primero que una piensa es que es una clara referencia a los españoles, ya que la leyenda negra nos ha presentado como esos seres sanguinarios. Pero por otro lado, al no hacer referencia a ninguna nación en concreto, puedes pensar que se refiere al hombre europeo en general o incluso a una crítica a Inglaterra. Pero luego viene la confirmación de que efectivamente, se refiere a España de forma sibilina, pues nos dice en otros párrafos posteriores y absolutamente memorables, lo siguiente:
"Pero reconozco que esta descripción en ningún modo se refiere a la nación británica, que puede servir de ejemplo a todo el mundo por su sabiduría, cuidado y justicia en establecer colonias; sus liberales consignaciones para el progreso de la religión y la cultura; su elección de pastores devotos y capaces para propagar el cristianismo; su precaución de poblar las provincias con gentes de vida y conservación moderadas, enviada de la madre patria; su riguroso celo en la administración de justicia, designación para el ministerio civil, en todas y cada parte de sus colonias, funcionarios de la mayor competencia, totalmente inaccesibles a la corrupción, y, por coronarlo todo, su tino para enviar a los más vigilantes y virtuosos gobernadores, que no tienen más aspiración que la felicidad de los pueblos que dirigen y el honor del rey su señor."
Cuando leí esto me quedé que no supe si echarme a reir o a llorar. Me pareció tan brutal que no sabía si era en serio o era una hipérbole irónica sobre Inglaterra. Y aún hoy sigo sin estar seguro de que no sea una crítica sarcástica de los británicos, porque si no fuera así me parece que no tiene nombre lo que escribe este hombre sobre los británicos. Pero es posible que sea así. Ya dije arriba que la leyenda negra, que los españoles nos empeñamos en creer, ha sido un ejercicio de propaganda espectacular y que ha conseguido humillar a España hasta la fecha de hoy.
No quero dejar de recordar que cuando Gulliver describe a los caballos cómo son algunas cosas de su nación, llega a explicar cómo son los abogados. Y la verdad es que los pone de vuelta y media. Gente que solo mira para ellos, que no le interesa la justicia ni el bien ni el mal, que desde niños aprenden las leyes y su especial vocabulario cuyo único objetivo es desviar la atención de la verdad para conseguir que la falsedad triunfe con el objeto de llenarse los bolsillos. Y una cantidad más de epítetos que no favorecen en nada a los abogados. Me acordé de Paula y me imagino que no le haría mucha gracia esta descripción, aunque a mi me resultó simpática.
en fin, pero fuera de esta anécdota, la obra se lee muy bien y es muy entretenida. Todo un clásico.
Primero nos relata sus aventuras en la isla de los liliputienses, pequeños personajes de unos 15 centímetros de altura estimo, que creo que no es necesario recordar.
Después llegará a la isla de los gigantes, llamados si no recuerdo mal brobdingnagianos, en donde fue rescatado por una familia labradora y la hija de esta familia lo llevará a la ciudad en donde será presentado a los reyes, siendo la Reina su especial protectora.
Seguidamente conocerá la isla de Laputa. Una isla que flota en el aire. Aquí nos cuenta cómo viven su habitantes y nos relata también a otros habilitantes de otras islas con las que los de Laputa tienen relación y vasallaje.
Por último nos narra sus aventuras en la isla de los caballos, llamados houyhnhnms. Animales inteligentes que hablan entre ellos. Gulliver consigue aprender su idioma y se queda prendado con la forma de ver el mundo de los caballos, hasta tal punto que no desea irse de la isla, aunque al final, por distintas circunstacias tiene que partir. En esta isla los caballos tienen animales de servidumbre que son exactamente iguales a los humanos, pero llenos de pelo y con garras en las manos y pies. Son seres salvajes y agresivos, llamados yahoo (al parecer se baraja la posibilidad de que el buscador yahoo se inspirara al tomar su nombre en estos personajes). Estos yahoo son usados como sirvientes pues no son más que bestias que no tienen entendimiento. De hecho Gulliver es tomado siempre como un yahoo pero con cierto grado de raciocinio y con capacidad para aprender el idioma de los caballos.
La obra se lee muy bien y es muy entretenida. Me ha llamado la atención las páginas finales en la que nos dice que los yahoo de Europa "...desembarcan para robar y saquear; encuentran un pueblo sencillo, que los recibe con amabilidad; toman de él formal posesión en nombre de su rey;... asesinan a dos o tres docenas de indígenas; se llevan por la fuerza una pareja como muestra... se envían barcos a la primera oportunidad; se expulsan o se destruyen a los naturales; se tortura a sus príncipes para obligarlos a declarar dónde tienen su oro; se concede plena autorización para todo acto de inhumanidad y lascivia... Y esta execrable cuadrilla de carniceros, empleada en esta piadosa expedición, es una colonia moderna, enviada para convertir y civilizar a un pueblo idólatra y bárbaro." Los párrafos están copiados literal del libro. Lo primero que una piensa es que es una clara referencia a los españoles, ya que la leyenda negra nos ha presentado como esos seres sanguinarios. Pero por otro lado, al no hacer referencia a ninguna nación en concreto, puedes pensar que se refiere al hombre europeo en general o incluso a una crítica a Inglaterra. Pero luego viene la confirmación de que efectivamente, se refiere a España de forma sibilina, pues nos dice en otros párrafos posteriores y absolutamente memorables, lo siguiente:
"Pero reconozco que esta descripción en ningún modo se refiere a la nación británica, que puede servir de ejemplo a todo el mundo por su sabiduría, cuidado y justicia en establecer colonias; sus liberales consignaciones para el progreso de la religión y la cultura; su elección de pastores devotos y capaces para propagar el cristianismo; su precaución de poblar las provincias con gentes de vida y conservación moderadas, enviada de la madre patria; su riguroso celo en la administración de justicia, designación para el ministerio civil, en todas y cada parte de sus colonias, funcionarios de la mayor competencia, totalmente inaccesibles a la corrupción, y, por coronarlo todo, su tino para enviar a los más vigilantes y virtuosos gobernadores, que no tienen más aspiración que la felicidad de los pueblos que dirigen y el honor del rey su señor."
Cuando leí esto me quedé que no supe si echarme a reir o a llorar. Me pareció tan brutal que no sabía si era en serio o era una hipérbole irónica sobre Inglaterra. Y aún hoy sigo sin estar seguro de que no sea una crítica sarcástica de los británicos, porque si no fuera así me parece que no tiene nombre lo que escribe este hombre sobre los británicos. Pero es posible que sea así. Ya dije arriba que la leyenda negra, que los españoles nos empeñamos en creer, ha sido un ejercicio de propaganda espectacular y que ha conseguido humillar a España hasta la fecha de hoy.
No quero dejar de recordar que cuando Gulliver describe a los caballos cómo son algunas cosas de su nación, llega a explicar cómo son los abogados. Y la verdad es que los pone de vuelta y media. Gente que solo mira para ellos, que no le interesa la justicia ni el bien ni el mal, que desde niños aprenden las leyes y su especial vocabulario cuyo único objetivo es desviar la atención de la verdad para conseguir que la falsedad triunfe con el objeto de llenarse los bolsillos. Y una cantidad más de epítetos que no favorecen en nada a los abogados. Me acordé de Paula y me imagino que no le haría mucha gracia esta descripción, aunque a mi me resultó simpática.
en fin, pero fuera de esta anécdota, la obra se lee muy bien y es muy entretenida. Todo un clásico.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2017
This book is SO much more than Lilliput. I'm glad I read the entire book, rather than relying on Disney's version.
September 13, 2021
you are not the funnyman that you think yourself to be sir. the only thing you succeeded in was just irating me from beyond the grave.
October 14, 2021
Make sure you want to spend a while figuring things out before you open this book, elizabethan language a bit tedious.
February 12, 2022
He big, no he small
October 26, 2022
One of the strangest stories I have ever come across. I wouldn't really recommend it unless you like very weird satire, and horses...
December 27, 2022
Excellent book
May 24, 2023
One of the best novels of all time.
August 9, 2024
Thoroughly entertained
Read
December 8, 2024What a strange fella
March 30, 2025
Read for professor lobell’s restoration and 18th century lit class
January 22, 2024
Modest Proposal 5
Gulliver 3.5
Gulliver 3.5
October 15, 2020
Swift was a wonderful satyrical writer. A Modest Proposal is my favorite essay of all time and pairing it with G. T. Was really smart as I think you get a better picture of Swifts philosophy by reading both. G. T. is one of those wonderful novels that can be read simply for the enjoyment of the story but also has a rich background of social commentary.
March 12, 2017
Jonathan Swift, a través de Los viajes de Gulliver, nos presenta una visión muy negativa de la humanidad. Escrita a la manera de los libros de viaje de la época (Swift aquí también satiriza su monótono estilo), la novela nos es presentada como la relación que escribe el marinero inglés Lemuel Gulliver de sus viajes a varios países fantásticos(Lilliput, Brobdignag, Balnibardi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, Japón, Laputa y el país de los Houyhnhnms).
Estos países, y su disimilitud con Europa, son para Gulliver el pretexto perfecto para comparar los usos de su país con los que encuentra en sus heterodoxos viajes. Uno de las consecuencias de este tipo de narración es que el lector no puede evitar analizar su propia idiosincrasia a la luz de las descritas en los capítulos del libro. Éste es un ejercicio sumamente interesante ya que pone en entredicho la validez de nuestras instituciones, costumbres, y yendo un poco más allá, incluso nuestro sentido común.
Swift exhibe una visión muy aguda y un análisis muy claro de los defectos de nuestra civilización. En lo personal, la distopía que más me resultó interesante, fue la de la isla flotante Laputa. Se trata de un país cuyos habitantes solo valoran el conocimiento abstracto y desprecian el valor práctico de las cosas y conocimientos. Estos seres desconocen a tal grado la fantasía y la imaginación que en su lengua no hay palabra para designarlas y sus vidas están plagadas de minuciosas discusiones sobre la actualidad política y preocupaciones sobre los que puede salir mal en el futuro.
Estos países, y su disimilitud con Europa, son para Gulliver el pretexto perfecto para comparar los usos de su país con los que encuentra en sus heterodoxos viajes. Uno de las consecuencias de este tipo de narración es que el lector no puede evitar analizar su propia idiosincrasia a la luz de las descritas en los capítulos del libro. Éste es un ejercicio sumamente interesante ya que pone en entredicho la validez de nuestras instituciones, costumbres, y yendo un poco más allá, incluso nuestro sentido común.
Swift exhibe una visión muy aguda y un análisis muy claro de los defectos de nuestra civilización. En lo personal, la distopía que más me resultó interesante, fue la de la isla flotante Laputa. Se trata de un país cuyos habitantes solo valoran el conocimiento abstracto y desprecian el valor práctico de las cosas y conocimientos. Estos seres desconocen a tal grado la fantasía y la imaginación que en su lengua no hay palabra para designarlas y sus vidas están plagadas de minuciosas discusiones sobre la actualidad política y preocupaciones sobre los que puede salir mal en el futuro.
July 16, 2009
Eh...I picked up Gulliver's Travels because I brought back from Christmas holiday (my parents' home and residence for many of my books) with the intention of diving right into it in January. Obviously, the intention has gone stale as it is now July.
Gulliver's travels reminds me of Twain's Innocents Abroad. Both are travel narratives and not really "novels" in the traditional sense--if at all. Swift and Twain's works are also united by their satirical intentions, though I must admit that much of the satire laced throughout Gulliver's Travels was lost on me. And it also sort of reminded me of "The Odyssey" by Homer--I don't know if this is a comparison most would agree with--but the way each of Gulliver's journeys evolves reminds me of "The Odyssey" where Odysseus is faced with certain tasks in an effort to prevent his return home.
"Gulliver's Travels" is divided into four parts; each part details a separate journey from Gulliver.
I believe this book has merit, but was bored at some parts--and without a study guide--fear that much of the book's original intention/effects was lost on me.
Gulliver's travels reminds me of Twain's Innocents Abroad. Both are travel narratives and not really "novels" in the traditional sense--if at all. Swift and Twain's works are also united by their satirical intentions, though I must admit that much of the satire laced throughout Gulliver's Travels was lost on me. And it also sort of reminded me of "The Odyssey" by Homer--I don't know if this is a comparison most would agree with--but the way each of Gulliver's journeys evolves reminds me of "The Odyssey" where Odysseus is faced with certain tasks in an effort to prevent his return home.
"Gulliver's Travels" is divided into four parts; each part details a separate journey from Gulliver.
I believe this book has merit, but was bored at some parts--and without a study guide--fear that much of the book's original intention/effects was lost on me.
July 15, 2009
Gulliver's Travels is purported to be a classic and a children's tale. I read this to find out about both and to remove the Disney version from my head. Gulliver travels to Lilliput (The small), Brobdingnag (giants), Laputa (thinkers) and Houyhnhnm (horses). The small and large are contrasted to show that might makes the rules. The thinkers are characterized an nonsensical, useless, layabout tyrants and the horse society with its attendant Yahoos (feral humans) as the ideal. The ideal which has no crime, want disease or love seems kind of boring.
The writing is arachaic, profane, funny and tedious.
A Modest Proposal in the darkest humor advocates the eating of Irish children by English lords and ladies. It would relieve the overpopulation of Ireland and play to the strength of the Irish - procreation. Swift acknowledges the slight initial distaste of eating children, but he suggests several methods of preparation and repitition to overcome the qualms of the sqeamish.
A Modest Proposal is the better work. Vicious, dark humor comes along but a few times.
The writing is arachaic, profane, funny and tedious.
A Modest Proposal in the darkest humor advocates the eating of Irish children by English lords and ladies. It would relieve the overpopulation of Ireland and play to the strength of the Irish - procreation. Swift acknowledges the slight initial distaste of eating children, but he suggests several methods of preparation and repitition to overcome the qualms of the sqeamish.
A Modest Proposal is the better work. Vicious, dark humor comes along but a few times.
February 16, 2011
I thought this, being a classic, would be better. It was exciting at first to read about his experiences in a strange land, but after awhile, all I could think was, "Geez guy, just stay home with your wife and kids. Every time you leave on a ship you inevitably are shipwrecked or thrown overboard or mutineered. LEARN YOUR LESSON!" But he doesn't. Maybe it's just that the stack of books on my nightstand seem WAY more interesting that Gulliver's Travels. But it wasn't engaging for me. :( Sadly, I think the Jack Black movie might be more engaging. I do love Jack Black though. Vive Nacho!!
One more thing - I did think the last part of the novel was somewhat redeeming. When our narrator is with the Houyhnhms (the horses) the does a fantastic job explaining humans and their nature. I did like that part.
One more thing - I did think the last part of the novel was somewhat redeeming. When our narrator is with the Houyhnhms (the horses) the does a fantastic job explaining humans and their nature. I did like that part.
October 25, 2007
Swift had a political agenda when he wrote Gulliver's Travels, and I find it fascinating how he could weave a plot around his opinions, to create an analogy that anyone can understand (and find humor in). As a result, he created not just an avenue for his social opinions, but a new literary culture (ie - the original source for our term "yahoo").
If you have never read "A Modest Proposal" I highly recommend it. Swift mocks some of his contemporaries and their methods for solving social problems, by proposing a typically rejected method for population control. Although he is not serious in his recommendation, it does bring to light the faulty foundations of the opinions of those whom he is criticizing in the essay.
If you have never read "A Modest Proposal" I highly recommend it. Swift mocks some of his contemporaries and their methods for solving social problems, by proposing a typically rejected method for population control. Although he is not serious in his recommendation, it does bring to light the faulty foundations of the opinions of those whom he is criticizing in the essay.
February 9, 2011
I really like the Voyage to Lilliput, but after that Swift's sense of humor grows old. This is the second time I have taught this and I enjoyed teaching it more the second time around. Unfortunately, like most teachers, I have run out of time and didn't get to cover the novel in depth the way I would have liked. I do think the students appreciated the satire, although I'm not sure they entirely understood all of the references, I did make a good effort to explain them. I will be teaching it again, next year and hope that every year I teach it, both the students and I get more and more out of it.
March 4, 2011
This wasn't the edition I read as a teenager, but it has my two favorite Swift pieces. The original Gulliver's Travels is nothing like the animated feature film or the later movie versions. I remember it as being quite 'naughty' when I first read it. "A Modest Proposal" is hilarious. For amture teens (as I was) and adults, an enjoyable adventure story and perhaps, in another dimension or some dystopian society, a solution to hunger. Don't know what i am talking about. Beat it to your local library or used boko store. Look for the Great Books of the Western World series (that's the one I read).
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