Gulliver's Travels as a Fairy Tale

“Gulliver’s Travel as a Fairy Tale”

Introduction:

        “Gulliver’s travel” was the story written by Jonathan Swift in year 1726. JONATHAN SWIFT one of the greatest of English satirists was born in Dublin and educated for the church at Trinity College in the same city. Jonathan Swift was born in 1667 in Dublin Ireland to an Irish father Jonathan Swift and English mother Abigail Erick. His Father passed away in his childhood and his mother left him with his relative. Swift was very much interested in Politics. He was also fond of writing novels and poems. He gave many famous novels, poems and prose to the English Literature. Gulliver’s Travels, Tale of a Tub and the Battle of the Books, a Modest Proposal, a journal to Stella, the Drapier’ Letters, The Baswere his best creation during his time. During his residence with Temple he wrote his “Tale of a Tub” and the “Battle of the Books”; and on Temple’s death he returned to Ireland, where he held several livings. During his secretary ship he had gained a knowledge of English politics, and in 1710 he left the Whig party and went over to the Tories, becoming their ablest pen at a time when pamphleteering was an important means of influencing politics. A fuller account of Swift’s life and an estimate of his character will be found in the essay by Thackeray in another volume of the Harvard Classics. His life period was 1667-1745 It is the classical children story rather than a tale. In the first three of Swift's writings here printed will be found good examples of his treatment of social and literary questions. It was the story about Lemuel Gulliver. It is one of such classics, representing one of the finest examples of a “Universal” story.              In his old age Swift suffered with deafness and his incurable disease lead him to the death. He died in 1745. At that time he was 77 year old.   

An Adventurous Story:

         Swift was able to charm innocence and amuse corruption. It is the story; however, that catches the reader’s interest. It was kind of a story which has all the aspects to make a full of adventurous story. It is the absorbing and enjoyable story of the four curious voyages that has won the attention of such a wide readership. This all four voyages are based on outing of Gulliver. Each voyage has their different imagination. This really attracts children to the story. It has all the elements of a complete fairy tale. It also appeals to the young generation. This book is also considered as a satire by Jonathan Swift as he was also satirist. It is an inspiring and magnificent tale of Gulliver’s adventures into imaginary worlds. In this novel we can find that Jonathan Swift had lightened the different aspects of mankind.

                Lamuel Gulliver was the lead character of the story. If we focused on the life of Gulliver, we can see many aspects of his personality. He was the narrator of the story. He was very intelligent person. He was also very well educated and well known personality. He is very sensitive minded person. He trusts the person easily. He was the person who never took the side of the wrong thing. He never lied to the people. But in inner he was not actually brave. Sometimes he became so dull. As he was the hero of the novel but sometimes we couldn’t able to find such heroic qualities in him.

The Amusing Experiences of Gulliver In Lilliput:

               

The author gives some account of himself and family. His first inducements to travel. He is shipwrecked, and swims for his life. Gets safe on shore in the country of Lilliput; is made a prisoner, and carried up the country.

Gulliver’s actual travel begins at Lilliput. In his first voyage he introduced himself by explaining his past. He also described how he went from a surgeon to a voyager. His ship met with a violent storm so his ship was damaged in sea so he reached at the island Lilliput where he find himself bounded by numberless threads.

“I attempt to rise, but was not able to stir: for as I happened to lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly fastened on each side to the ground; and my hair; which was long and thick, tied down I the same manner. I likewise felt several slender ligatures across my body; from my armpits to my thighs. I could only look upwards, the sun began to grow a hot, and the light offended mine eyes. I heard a confused noise about me, but in the posture I lay, could see nothing expect the sky.”

-Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels, Part-1, Chapter. 1

 This was done by the islanders. They were just six inches tall.  Gulliver addressed by a little animal prisoner. But Gulliver fined all the Lilliputians so humbled. But after feeding Gulliver, all the Lilliputians were scared because Gulliver wants more food than a thousand Lilliputians need in a time.

                Gulliver was taken to the capital city of Lilliput after this. He was giant man for Lilliputians. So he was taken in the big serving cart. This was specially made by all the Lilliputians for Gulliver. All the Lilliputians take him to meet the Emperor. Gulliver was feeling good after seeing royalty in the emperor. The majesty of Lilliput decided to give house and bed to Gulliver. When this adventure was at an end, I came back out of my house, having occasion for fresh air.  The emperor was already descended from the tower, and advancing on horseback towards me, which had like to have cost him dear; for the beast, though very well trained, yet wholly unused to such a sight, which appeared as if a mountain moved before him, reared up on its hinder feet: but that prince, who is an excellent horseman, kept his seat, till his attendants ran in, and held the bridle, while his majesty had time to dismount. We can say that it was a big benefit for the Lilliputians.  Gulliver was a guard for army during their war when he fought against their neighbour: The Blefuscudians. They were the hates by all the Lilliputians because of difference in crack eggs in proper way.  After an incident he manages to escapes to a boat and sail away from the island back to England.

Gulliver’s Exciting Experience In Brobdingnag:

A great storm described;the the longboat sent to fetch water; the author goes with it to discover the country. He is left on shore, is seized by one of the natives, and carried to a farmer’s house. His reception, with several accidents that happened there. A description of the inhabitants.

                Gulliver left an island after passing ten months in Lilliput. And he came back to home at England. He started living his life with his wife. He lives for two months with his family. Gulliver thinks to travel next sea after that. This adventures thought take him to the land of Brobdingnag. It was the island of giants. It is totally opposite to the Lilliput. At there a farmer fined Gulliver and took him at his home for to take care of her daughter. In beginning he was the centre of the ignorance by the Brobdingnagian. He had to face lots of difficulties for his existence because of his height. His travelling box was grabbed by an eagle and dropped into the sea so he couldn’t be there anymore. Fortunately he was saved by sailors. So he was able to come back England.

"When I came to my own house, for which I was forced to enquire, one of the servants opening the door, I bent down to go in (like a goose under a gate) for fear of striking my head. My wife ran out to embrace me, but I stooped lower than her knees, thinking she could otherwise never be able to reach my mouth. My daughter kneeled to ask me blessing, but I could not see her till she arose, having been so long used to stand with my head an eyes erect to above sixty foot; and then I went to take her up with one hand, by the waist. I looked down upon the servants and one or two friends who were in the house, as if they had been pygmies, and I a giant."
- Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels, Part 2, Ch. 8

Gulliver’s Life In Laputa :

The author sets out on his third voyage. Is taken by pirates. The malice of a Dutchman. His arrival at an island. He is received into Laputa.

 Travelling in different islands of worlds, Gulliver now decided to go for another adventure. So after three months of his coming from Brobdingang he thinks for another adventure.  But again he was attacked by pirates when he was sailing his ship.  And he was left alone in the island named Laputa, where floating island populated by thinkers, philosophers and many academic personalities who were living under stressed  called Balnibarbi.

"Their heads were all reclined either to the right, or the left; one of their eyes turned inward, and the other directly up to the zenith. Their outward garments were adorned with the figures of suns, moons, and stars, interwoven with those of fiddles, flutes, harps, trumpets, guitars, harpsichords, and many more instruments of music, unknown to us in Europe. I observed here and there many in the habit of servants, with a blown bladder fastened like a flail to the end of a short stick, which they carried in their hands. In each bladder was a small quantity of dried pease or little pebbles (as I was afterwards informed). With these bladders they now and then flapped the mouths and ears of those who stood near them, of which practice I could not then conceive the meaning; it seems, the minds of these people are so taken up with intense speculations, that they neither an speak, nor attend to the discourses of others, without being roused by some external taction upon the organs of speech and hearing."
- Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels, Part 3, Ch. 2

There is a satire on human intellect, human mind and on science, philosophy and mathematics. They are so intelligent but so involved in new science and theories. So they were so self centred thus they couldn’t able to achieve anything for their island. So after realising motive of the island he returned to the England.

               

                The author sets out as captain of a ship. His men conpire against him, confine him a long time to his cabin, and set him on shore in an unknown land. He travels up into the country. The Yahoos, a strange sort of animal, described. The author meets two Houyhnhnms.         

The journey of Houyhnhnms:

The author sets out as captain of a ship. His men conspire against him, confine him a long time to his cabin, and set him on shore in an unknown land. He travels up into the country. The Yahoos, a strange of animal, described. The author meets two Houyhnhnms.

 At last coming from Laputa Gulliver realises that he couldn’t be able to stay at home for so long. So he planned to go for his last destination. So during his journey for new island, his crew disobeyed Gulliver’s order and left Gulliver in a new island called Houyhnhnms. On this divine island Gulliver find creatures named “Yahoos”. They were look like human being but actually they were horses.

"Their heads and breasts were covered with a thick hair, some frizzled and others lank; they had bears like goats, and a long ridge of hair down their backs, and the foreparts of their legs and feet, but the rest of their bodies were bare, so that I might see their skins, which were of a brown buff color. They had no tails, nor any hair at all on their buttocks, except about the anus; which, I presume, Nature had placed there to defend them as they sat on the ground; for this posture they used, as well as lying down, and often stood on their hind feet."
- Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels, Part 4, Ch. 1

They were the ruler of the island. Again Gulliver introduced us with the chief Minister of the state,

“A first or Chief Minister of state, whom I intended to describe wholly exempt from joy  and grief, love and hatred, pity and anger; at least made use of no other passions but a violent desire of wealth, power, and titles; that he applies his words to all uses, except to the indication of his mind; that he never tells a truth, but with an intent that you should take it for a lie; nor a lie, but with a design that you should take it for a truth; that those he speaks worst of behind their backs are in the surest way to preferment, and whenever he begins to praise you to others or to yourself, you are from that day forlorn. The worst mark you can receive is a promise, especially when it is confirmed with an oath; after which every wise man retries, and gives over all hopes.”

-Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s travels, Part 4, Ch. 6

 Gulliver started living his life with them and he started learning their language. So he could able to talk with them. And he told them about his voyages. He was getting high hospitality from Houyhnhnms. But after some time he was the risk for all the horses and for his community. So he was cast out by horses. And Gulliver accepts the decision. So Gulliver came back to the England threw a Portugese ship. At the end of the story he couldn’t able to make his different identity. So he failed somewhere in his life.

                At the end of the novel we find that how Gulliver travelled in different islands and how he had to face difficulties in his travelling. But we can say that Gulliver came out from all the difficulties and completed his all destinations with all courage. Gulliver can spend easy life at home but his passion derives him to the different voyages. So he decided to travel in unknown countries. So he can check his inner strength to come across the difficulties. Because of his decision to travel unknown countries he had to struggle a lot in his journey. He experienced lot of difficulties and some serious problems in his journey. But every time he successfully came out from troubles and can able to reach home safely. It was just a miracle we can say.

                In every land which Gulliver travelled were the very wonderful islands. And his experiences in every island are so much exciting and strange also. The island Lilliput was the land of small people. They were so short in height. It was very funny to see how Gulliver was fed up by all tiny Lilliputians. They used ladders to reach to him and more than hundred Lilliputians climb up those ladders to carry a basket full of meat and drink. It has taken nine hundred Lilliputians three hours to raise Gulliver to the level of a huge carriage by which he is carried to the royal court.  So because of all this things he was the centre of attraction and also an object of curiosity. Lilliputians usually called him “Man-Mountain”.

                There are lots of incidents which can amaze us. One of the most amusing incident was Gulliver destroyed the apartment of The Empress by ruining on it. Because of his this action, The Empress were angry upon him. So location of had to be change because of his that action. The customs and the writing manner of the Lilliputians were so amusing which create laugh at some time. Gulliver’s Travels is also considered as a fairy tale because of some incidents. When Gulliver went to the Giant’s island, he become short and when he went to the tiny people land he became giant. Its create fantasy for children. There are also some more incidents when Gulliver reached at the Lilliput, all the tiny Lilliputians were coming with the food for Gulliver and the food was taken in to the small cart, that were so small that it couldn’t be find in real life. One another incident from the same island is when Gulliver was used to walk in the state, all the Lilliputians got afraid of him. In the same way when Gulliver was at the island of giant’s he was roaming here and there in the whole empire, it just looks like a small creature was in the empire.

                Thus, we can say that “Gulliver’s travels” was the story like a fairy tale. Finally, we must be pointed out that it is not enough to describe Gulliver’s Travels merely as an adventure story or a tale of wonder or a fairy tale. We must recognize that in it Swift has criticized human institutions and human passions. It is a satiric masterpiece in which Jonathan Swift exposes human follies and absurdities, and the consequences of human irrationality. There is no doubt that Gulliver’s Travels is a story of adventure and that it has several elements in it of a fairy tale. Both adventure and fairy-elements in a story appeal greatly to the young mind. They have some charm even for the adult mind. But it would be an incorrect view to regard Gulliver’s Travels as only an adventure story or a fairy tale intended for the entertainment and diversion of young people. Gulliver’s tale is a symbolic work of satire. In other words, there lies below the surface a deeper meaning. In general Jonathan Swift’s real purpose was to expose the foolishness, absurdities, and evils of mankind. However, this book has established itself not only as a satire on mankind but also as a classic for the young readers. So it was also book of children also because of some fantasy factors were in the book.