Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift | Summary & Analysis

Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth analysis of the plot, characters, symbols, themes, and motifs of Jonathan Swift's novel Gulliver's Travels.


In Jonathan Swift's iconic satire Gulliver's Travels, the titular protagonist journeys to strange lands and interacts with their even-stranger inhabitants.

As he ricochets from one ridiculous adventure to the next, Gulliver's faith in humanity and its constructs is utterly dismantled.

His encounters with the minute Lilliputians, the gigantic Brobdingnagians, and the Houyhnhnms, a race of talking horses, among others, illustrate the absurdities of 18th century English society.

Through his depictions of bizarre social customs, tyrannical leaders, and arcane intellectual pursuits, he casts a gimlet eye on a country both fraught with conflict and revolutionized by the Enlightenment.

Irish writer Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels was first published in 1726. Despite holding various political positions and rising through the ranks of the Irish church, he used his writings to prod unrelentingly at the failings of politics, religion, and Enlightenment thinking in general. Full of both pointed observations and scatological humor, Gulliver’s Travels is a touchstone of narrative social commentary.

The satirical, adventurous novel Gulliver’s Travels contains many enduring themes, including abuses of power, as those who have power display intolerance, no matter how much Gulliver likes them. The cerebral versus the real world is also explored, as the most learned people Gulliver meets are often the least practical and compassionate. Another theme is society versus the individual, as each society Gulliver visits has practices everyone must conform to. Important motifs include bodies, language, and reversal.


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[nicholasmorrison]

I could listen to you say “Who when nem!” all day ;)

[tommytraddles]

No mention of the satirical nature of the novel, which is its essence.

[stpitliz]

watching the jack black movie as a child definitely gave me an extremely incorrect impression on what this story is actually about lmao

[i.g]

To the reader's of this noveI; What do you think about that idea
"Man goes to the moon and billions of dollars spent and yet there are a lot of people hungry "

[avivastudios]

The plot is interesting but the writing style is awful. I can't get through this book so thanks for the summary.

[Robak-yd]

This video is very helpful! Thank you!

[zpettigrew]

I think you've completely missed the whole Yahoo/Houyhnhnms relationship and theme.

[thelittleseamstress]

I'm just waiting for this guy to say "inconceivable!"

[KALOPAN]

it may be a little better if he was slower a bit :D but thanks anyway, appreciate it.

[Erenislam]

Guys whats your favorite scene from this book?

[Erenislam]

Whats your favorite scene of this book?

[Bluepnguin]

Who ever is mt mannalmon and from bagong silangan elementary school grade 5 wassup cladsmates

[-spxmtxstic-]

Is it just me or did the video repeat sections?

[trevorgopaul]

how does swift try and make society better?

[hipnicity]

Does Gulliver go from being a giant to being little?

[SARA-fcmo]

In which sense gulliver's charachter is special ?

[jobbin]

Like if you are here from mister northstar!

[dhanishakale]

Are Yahoos can b the family of Gulliver culture?In future, if a Yahoo women tries again?