IVERSITY OF KALYAN

UN

I
KALYANI MAHAVIDYALAYA

Name: Pritam Ghatak

College Roll Number: A809
Department: English
Semester: 4th Semester
University of Kalyani Roll Number: 8133117-2315423
University of Kalyani Registration Number: 016275

TOPIC: Gulliver’s Travels as a Political Allegory

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am proud to be a student of English literature for

which I have this satisfactory opportunity to work on
the subject of Gulliver’s Travels as a Political Allegory.

We, the students of the Department of English of

Kalyani Mahavidyalaya, are grateful to have learned
and elegant teachers like [Insert Teacher’s Name], all of
whom have helped, guided, and motivated us to widen
the horizon of our knowledge to the fullest in order to
work on this project individually.

I am also thankful to my parents, family members, and

friends who have supported me to complete this
English project.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction :
Body:
Conclusion:
Bibliography:
Websites:
 TITLE: Gulliver’s Travels as a Political Allegory

INTRODUCTION

Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, published in 1726, is

often remembered for its fantastical voyages and
imaginative storytelling. However, beneath this layer of
adventure lies a biting satire directed at the political,
social, and intellectual landscape of 18th-century
England. Swift, a clergyman, satirist, and political
commentator, used the fictional travels of Lemuel
Gulliver as a medium to express his criticism of human
nature and the institutions of his time. Through
allegorical representation, Swift exposes the
corruption, hypocrisy, and absurdities of political
structures. This project explores how each voyage in
the novel serves as a political allegory, shedding light
on the realities of Swift’s era.
 SATIRICAL PURPOSE AND POLITICAL INTENTION

Swift's purpose in writing Gulliver’s Travels was not

merely to entertain but to critique the prevailing
political ideologies and institutions of early 18th-
century Britain. He was closely associated with the Tory
party and deeply disillusioned with both the Whigs and
the corruption he saw in government. Swift used satire
to mask his direct political criticisms, allowing him to
attack public figures and policies without openly
naming them. He once remarked that “satire is a sort of
glass, wherein beholders do generally discover
everybody’s face but their own.” This concept is central
to the novel, as Swift holds up a mirror to society,
forcing readers to confront the flaws in governance,
leadership, and the human condition.
 LILLIPUT AS A MINIATURE ENGLAND

In the first voyage, Gulliver visits Lilliput, a land of six-

inch-tall people engaged in constant political conflict.
This society mirrors early 18th-century England,
particularly its pettiness and party politics. The
Lilliputians are divided into two political factions: the
Low-Heels and the High-Heels, representing the Whigs
and the Tories, respectively. Their war with Blefuscu
over the correct way to break an egg (big end vs. little
end) is a satirical representation of the trivial religious
disputes between Catholics and Protestants. Through
Lilliput, Swift exposes the ridiculous nature of such
divisions and criticizes the self-importance of politicians
who engage in shallow ideological warfare.
 GULLIVER AS A NEUTRAL OBSERVER

Gulliver himself serves as a neutral and often naïve

observer, providing a lens through which readers can
view these societies. As an everyman figure, his lack of
political bias allows Swift to use him as a vessel to
deliver commentary. However, Gulliver’s tone changes
throughout the novel—while he starts as a curious
explorer, he becomes increasingly cynical and detached
by the end. His shifting perspective mirrors Swift’s own
disillusionment with humanity and politics. Gulliver’s
observations are factual and non-judgmental, yet they
reveal the grotesque absurdities of the societies he
encounters, indirectly conveying Swift’s critical
perspective.
 BROBDINGNAG AND THE MORAL KING

In contrast to Lilliput, Brobdingnag is inhabited by

giants and symbolizes a more morally grounded and
rational society. The King of Brobdingnag is portrayed
as a wise and thoughtful ruler who is horrified by
Gulliver’s descriptions of European politics, war, and
law. He refers to European governments as “a heap of
conspiracies, rebellions, murders, massacres,
revolutions, banishments.” Through this, Swift critiques
the violence and immorality embedded in European
statecraft. The Brobdingnagian King, uninterested in
conquest or grandeur, represents the ideal political
ruler—one who prioritizes reason, morality, and the
well-being of his people over power.
 LAPUTA AND THE DANGERS OF ABSTRACT
GOVERNANCE

Laputa, a flying island inhabited by scientists and

intellectuals, represents the danger of overly
theoretical governance. The Laputans are obsessed
with mathematics, music, and astronomy, but they are
completely disconnected from practical concerns. Their
neglect of the lower classes living on the ground below
signifies how political elites often ignore the realities
faced by common people. Swift uses this episode to
satirize the Royal Society and Enlightenment thinkers
who prioritized knowledge for its own sake without
considering its applicability. This voyage criticizes
technocratic governance and the misuse of intellect in
politics.
 THE STRULDBRUGS AND THE MYTH OF POLITICAL
IMMORTALITY

In Luggnagg, Gulliver encounters the Struldbrugs—

people who are immortal but continue aging. At first,
Gulliver considers this a blessing, imagining how such
individuals could offer political wisdom through
centuries of experience. However, he soon learns that
the Struldbrugs are miserable, excluded from society,
and unable to die. This serves as a metaphor for the
idea that political systems and rulers who cling to
power indefinitely become stagnant and ineffective.
Swift uses the Struldbrugs to critique the obsession
with legacy, longevity, and the illusion of eternal
governance.
 HOUYHNHNMS VS. YAHOOS: HUMANITY EXPOSED

The final voyage, to the land of the Houyhnhnms,

presents the most profound political allegory. The
Houyhnhnms are rational, logical horses, while the
Yahoos—human-like creatures—are savage and
irrational. Gulliver admires the Houyhnhnms and
aspires to live like them, rejecting his own species. This
episode explores themes of reason versus passion, and
the potential dangers of pursuing an overly rational
political system. While the Houyhnhnms are peaceful,
their emotionless, utilitarian society raises ethical
concerns. Meanwhile, the Yahoos embody humanity’s
base instincts—greed, lust, and violence. Swift presents
a grim picture of human nature and governance,
suggesting that no political system can succeed if
humans remain governed by their worst impulses.
 HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND SATIRICAL TARGETS

Understanding the historical context of Swift’s time

enhances the political allegory of Gulliver’s Travels. The
novel reflects the reign of Queen Anne, the rise of
Prime Minister Robert Walpole, and the growing
tensions between the Whigs and Tories. Swift also
critiques colonialism, bureaucracy, and the
Enlightenment's blind faith in reason. His attacks are
not limited to one side; rather, he exposes the flaws of
both liberal and conservative ideologies. His political
satire is universal, transcending party lines and
targeting the corruption and moral decay of politics as
a whole.
 CONCLUSION

In Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift creates a rich

political allegory that critiques the corruption,
incompetence, and vanity of political systems. Each
voyage reveals a different facet of governance—petty
partisanship, moral leadership, elitism, irrationality,
and the nature of humanity itself. Swift’s satire is both
humorous and deeply serious, challenging readers to
reflect on the failings of their own governments and
societies. Though written nearly 300 years ago,
Gulliver’s Travels remains remarkably relevant, offering
timeless insights into power, politics, and the human
condition.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver’s Travels. Edited by Robert

DeMaria Jr., Penguin Classics, 2003.
2. Rawson, Claude. Jonathan Swift: A Collection of
Critical Essays. Prentice Hall, 1995.
3. Paulson, Ronald. The Art of Jonathan Swift. Yale
University Press, 1976.
4. Damrosch, Leopold. Jonathan Swift: His Life and His
World. Yale University Press, 2013.
5. Williams, Kathleen. Jonathan Swift and the Age of
Compromise. University of Kansas Press, 1958.
6. Downie, J. A. “Political Satire in Gulliver’s Travels.”
Eighteenth-Century Life, vol. 14, no. 1, 1990, pp. 1–17.
7. Speck, W. A. Swift and the Age of Compromise.
Harvester Press, 1981.
8. Hodgart, Matthew. Satire: Origins and Principles.
Transaction Publishers, 2010.
 WEBSITES

1. “Jonathan Swift and ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ – Political

Satire.” British Library,
https://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/item126713.html
2. “Political Allegory in Gulliver’s Travels.” Literature
Articles,
https://literaturearticles.com/gullivers-travels-as-a-
political-allegory/
3. “Gulliver’s Travels as a Satire.” GradeSaver Study
Guide,
https://www.gradesaver.com/gullivers-travels/study-
guide/themes
4. “Jonathan Swift: Biography and Works.” Encyclopedia
Britannica,
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jonathan-Swift
5. “Swift’s Political Commentary in Gulliver’s Travels.”
The Victorian Web,
http://www.victorianweb.org/previctorian/swift/politic
s.html