Structure of Gulliver’s Travels:

Structurally, Gulliver’s Travels is divided into four parts, with two introductory letters at the beginning of the book. These letters, from Gulliver and his editor Sympson, let us know that Gulliver is basically a good person who has been very much changed by the amazing journeys to follow. Part I follows Gulliver’s journey to Lilliput and its tiny people; Part II to Brobdingnag and its giants; Part III to several islands and countries near Japan; Part IV follows Gulliver to the country of the Houyhnhnm. The first and second parts set up contrasts that allow Swift to satirize European politics and society. The third part satirizes human institutions and thinking and is subdivided into four sections that are set in Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdrib, and Luggnagg. The first two sections are seen as a critique of sciences and scholars; the Glubbdubdrib section looks at history; and the Luggnagg section at Swift’s fears about getting old. The final section moves from criticizing humanity’s works to examining the flawed nature of humanity itself.

Style and Technique:

Swift has employed a narrator, Lamuel Gulliver, to narrate the stories of the book. But, this first-person narrator is not completely reliable. Swift deliberately makes Gulliver naive and sometimes even arrogant for two reasons. First, it makes the reader more skeptical about the ideas presented in the book. Second, it allows the reader to have a good laugh at Gulliver’s expense when he does not realize the absurdity of his limited viewpoint. Swift’s manipulation of Gulliver, in manifold ways, is the most effective device to reach his satirical goal.

Fundamentally, Swift has written his satire in the form of imaginary voyages to fantastic lands. Apparently, it seems to be the most pleasant children’s book enjoyable to the brim, but no one can overlook for long the dark charms underneath. Gentleness, playfulness, irony, sarcasm finely poised argument, and lacerating invectives are so carefully enfolded one within another that it is evident Swift created endless mystery on purpose.

The author uses various techniques in order to bring his ideas home. Gulliver is at once the author and the protagonist of the narrative. This dramatic technique makes Swift impersonal in his attack; he can evade ample charge by imposing on Gulliver’s shoulder. Gulliver, who is a satirist in the first Book, turns into the very object of Swift’s satire in the second Book. Contrast is used as a technique. Physical contrasts are present throughout the book. The Lilliputian Emperor is contrasted with the Brobdingnagian King. The estate of Lord Munodi is contrasted with the other estates. In the fourth Book, Houyhnhnms are contrasted with the Yahoos. Even the Gulliver in one part is contrasted with the Gulliver in the other part. Swift also exploits other devices like irony and humor. In fact, Swift uses all the techniques available to tear off the pride of man, to ridicule his immoral living, to make fun of his boastful reason, his inhuman activities, and his professional corruption.

Gulliver’s Travels is Swift’s masterpiece. Despite the early controversies, critics over the years have come to hail Gulliver’s Travels as the greatest satire by the greatest prose satirist in the English language. Swift intended the book to be both an attack on mankind and its follies and an honest assessment of mankind’s positive and negative qualities. It is also considered a critique of the greatest moral, philosophical, scientific, and political ideas of Swift’s time.