Swift’s Use of Lemuel Gulliver as a Narrator and an Observer

Answer

Examine Swift’s use of Lemuel Gulliver as a narrator and an observer.

Or, Describe the ups and downs of Lemuel Gulliver’s life as presented by Jonathan Swift in “Gulliver Travels.” 

Jonathan Swift’s (1667 – 1745) use of Lemuel Gulliver as a narrator and observer in “Gulliver’s Travels” (1726) is a masterful literary technique. Through this, Swift satirizes the irregularities and discrimination established in the society. Presenting the story through Gulliver, Jonathan Swift highlights several critical issues in society:

Reliability and Credibility: Gulliver’s narration is marked by a tone of earnestness and credibility. He is presented as a typical, rational Englishman who describes his tale of extraordinary voyages with a straightforward and matter-of-fact style. The juxtaposition between the rational narrator and the fantastical events he recounts lends a degree of probability to the incredible tales. He invites readers to suspend disbelief temporarily. Gulliver’s narrative method takes a scientific approach that creates a sense of reality.

Innocence and Naivety: In the initial stage, Gulliver’s character is presented as simple and usual, which helps Jonathan Swift express the inconsistency of human nature and society. He describes the customs and practices of different cultures, which reflect the flaws and irregularities of his own society.

Descriptions of Lilliputian Politics: Gulliver describes Lilliputian politics. It reveals the pettiness and triviality of the political conflicts in contemporary Britain. Gulliver reveals that only constant obedience can satisfy monarchs. For instance, Gulliver helps  the Emperor of Lilliput  by capturing the enemy’s navy. But the emperor gives Gulliver the cold shoulder when Gulliver refuses to escalate the war against Blefuscu. As Gulliver says:

Of so little weight are the greatest services to princes when put into the balance with a refusal to gratify their passions.

Contrast and Comparison: As an observer, Gulliver’s encounters with different societies allow Swift to use contrast and comparison to highlight the follies and vices of human beings. Each of the lands Gulliver visits serves as a satirical mirror. They reflect aspects of 18th-century English society:

i) Lilliput: Through the