By Rick Rodriguez
Gulliver's Travels is a must read for any student of literature and history. In fact, it is probably necessary to read this book simply to understand human nature. Originally published in 1726, the book is considered a timeless classic; nonetheless, there is nothing simple about reading a book conjured up within the mind and imagination of Jonathan Swift.
I found it comparable in many ways to Cervantes' classic Don Quixote. In fact, I was following a pattern of reading classic books in the time frame of their creation in order to understand the era of their publishing. In other words, by reading books near the original publish date, the reader, can evaluate a book in the context of the era in which it was created. According to the book The Well Educated Mind: A guide to the Classic Education You Never Had by Susan Wise Bauer, reading classic books in this manner is the best way to retain the work. I certainly don't disagree with this method of study. I will say that I will recall Gulliver's Travels and Don Quixote as a result.
So, what about Gulliver's Travels and what will I remember of it? Well, certainly the writing is impressive. Clearly, at times, the reader will find the story difficult to follow. Moreover, the neophyte might find pronouncing the following: Blefuscuans, Brobdingnags, Glumdalclitch, and Houyhnhnms a bit on the difficult side. I found the Author adroit in fully describing each encounter with the characters in the story. And also precisely describing human nature (?). Here's an example of a Lawyer's dilemma: Swift (P. 229 Penguin 1726) "I said, there was a society of Men among us, bred up from their Youth in the Art of proving by Words multiplied for the Purpose that White is Black, and Black is White, according as they are paid. To this Society all the rest of the People are Slaves. For example, if my Neighbour hath a mind to my Cow, he hires a Lawyer to prove, that he ought to have my Cow from me. I must then hire another to defend my Right, it being against all Rules of Law that any Man should be allowed to speak for himself. Now, in this Case, I who am the true Owner lie under two great Disadvantages. First, my Lawyer being practised almost from his Cradle in defending Falsehood, is quite out of his Element when he would be an Advocate for Justice, which as an Office unnatural, he always attempts with great Awkwardness, if not with ill Will. The second Disadvantage is, that my Lawyer must proceed with great Caution, or else he will be reprimanded by the Judges, and abhorred by his Brethren, as one who would lessen the Practice of the Law. And therefore I have but two Methods to preserve my Cow. The first is to gain over my Adversary's Lawyer with a double fee, who will then betray his Client by insinuating that he hath Justice on his Side. The second way is for my Lawyer to make my Cause appear as unjust as he can, by allowing the Cow to belong to my Adversary; and this, if it be skillfully done, will certainly bespeak the Favour of the Bench." An interesting paragraph to say the least, but please bear in mind this is circa 1720. How consistent have we been throughout human history? Is Swift describing human nature through his assessment of lawyers?
So much more could be said about this book. Frankly, however, I need to reread it in order to fully grasp its lessons. Did I enjoy it? Yes, but not wholeheartedly, Jane Eyre and Don Quixote are far more enjoyable to read, and more memorable. Yet, in fairness to the work, my comprehension needs to improve in order to fully understand difficult books, and the Author's intended meaning.
Gulliver's Travels, Penguin Classics edition, is 271 pages. I read it in late 2008 and completed it in early 2009.
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