Gulliver's Travels - Classic

Jonathan Swift wrote Gulliver’s Travels in 1726.  This book is seen to be a classic due to its uniqueness.  The book is unique because of the plot: a man who tells stories about being attacked and harassed by tiny people.  It has lasted the test of time because it is an example of Swift's use of satire.  Gulliver's Travels has humor and can be interpreted numerous ways, which allows various readers to enjoy it.  Also generally speaking, Gulliver's Travels is a well-written book that goes into the mind of Jonathan Swift and how he thinks.  Doing this, Swift uses magnificent imagery in a way that the world has not seen before.  For example, he observes the little people having many rebellions upon the breaking of an eggshell.  Describing this unique way of thinking attracted a great audience towards Swift's work.  

Gulliver's Travels brings new ideas to American literature.  It emphasized the idea that humans are not meant to know everything and that there is a natural limit to understanding everything.  Swift makes a great effort to make this known to those who believe they know everything.  Furthermore, Swift highlights the importance of self-understanding; realizing who you are and how you are portrayed to others.  This is just one of the lessons that Gulliver learns throughout the book.  Gulliver's Travels also introduces the question of whether physical power or moral righteousness should be a determining factor in social life.  Gulliver is constantly faced with question of if he should physically oppress and harm the little people or do what is right and let them be.  The stories told while Gulliver is described to be a giant is a totally new idea as well.  A piece of literature has never examined life from a giant's point of view while focusing on the relationship of the little people. 

Gulliver's Travels was more accessible than many other books from the early to mid 1700s. With that being said, this shows how widely it was published and that their was a demand for this radical book at the time; it had been a piece the masses were eager to read.  American's response to reading Swift's work was a great realization of themselves and the way they are living their life with the people around them.  

Gulliver's Travels captured the conflict that took place within England throughout the early 1700s.  These conflicts were over the differences in religion.  Swift captures these differences and gives innuendoes to these conflicts all throughout the book. For example, Swift includes Gulliver being convicted for treason while not doing anything related to the church or religion.   Furthermore, this book represents the Enlightenment and the way of expressing new and radical ideas through writing and publication.  However, Swift does still capture the English monarchical system in Gulliver’s Travel.

When Jonathan Swift wrote this book, he wanted to illustrate how his mind worked and what he thought others should realize.  He wanted the realization that no one is omniscient, that one person does not know everything about everyone.  Swift saw this ideology among many people while writing this book.   He also wanted Gulliver’s Travels to be easily read among all of masses, which it was.  Gulliver’s Travels being a simple read, along with demonstrating early England and having a great message is why it is considered a classic in today’s world.