Dana Watson
Blog Post #4
As I finished the book this week, I really started to notice a change in Gulliver. In the beginning of Gulliver’s Travels, Gulliver was somewhat indifferent towards his situations and just learned to adapt. In the second portion of the book, you slowly see Gulliver become cynical and change his views towards humans in general. Then, finally, in the last part of the book, where he is on the island with the Houyhnhnms, he totally changes and forms strong hatred towards human people, or yahoos, because of his long and life-changing stay with the Houyhnhnms. His enjoyment of being on that island is cited in several places throughout the last portion of the book. Here are a couple:
On the top of page 254, Gulliver explains that during his stay with the Houyhnhnms, he never:
“found the treachery of a friend, nor lawyer to ruin my fortune… Here there were no pick-pockets, no cheating shopkeepers, nor lewd, expensive wives…”. There's actually a whole paragraph devoted to vices and temptations he didn't have to face when on the island.
And continued to page 255, Gulliver explains how much he loves the island how attached to the people he had gotten. And then finally, on page 257, when he was informed that he had to leave the country:
“I was struck with the utmost grief and despair…and that death would have been too great an happiness rather than to leave…”.
These passages show how much he enjoyed the island with the Houyhnhnms and how much he hurt when he had to leave. He saw this island as a utopia.
Once he left though, his cynicism toward other Yahoos really started to show.
On page 264, Gulliver “strove to conceal my antipathy to human kind”, and then on page 265, his hate towards humans is taken to a whole new level, when Gulliver says “…my family received me with great surprise and joy…but I must freely confress the sight of them filled me only with hatred, disgust and contempt.”
Gulliver’s views of humans (Yahoos) totally changed when he was in the presence of the Houyhnhnms. He learned of the vices and troubles that humans have and how corrupt and impure our race really is. So, once he returns to England, he is just disgusted with everyone around him, and even himself at times. I think these passages are very significant, because it really shows his change in character that took place throughout the book, culminating in some strong feelings that you would have never really picked up at the beginning of the book.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Blog Post #3 - Oh, politics...
As I was reading through Gulliver’s Travels this week, I lost some interest during some parts that just seemed hard to stay engaged with; I don’t know why, exactly, but it was just a little tougher for me. But, when Gulliver was allowed to visit the Academy of Lagado in the Metropolis, I couldn’t put the book down. I just thought it was really interesting all of the different professors working in the academy and all the crazy inventions and ideas they were working on. Some of the ideas they possessed seemed a little too crazy and even a little hard to comprehend, but some were somewhat feasible and comical, such as the idea to abolish all words for health reasons and to replace language with the association of things. Or, the disgusting project to pick apart human feces and recreate the food that the waste was composed of. Another project that is implausible but kind of fun to think about, was the architect that was working on building buildings from the roof down, contrary to what has been done in the past.
A passage I found that was really significant to me is on page 176, the third paragraph and running to the top of page 177. It is when Gulliver is speaking with the ingenious doctor that was well-versed in the system of government. Here’s an excerpt:
“He likewise directed, that every Senator in the great Council of a Nation…should be obliged to give his vote directly contrary; because if that were done, the result would infallibly terminate in the good of the public.”
This passage literally made me laugh out loud. To me, it shows that Swift is just making fun of politicians here. He’s saying that when politicians vote, they always seem to vote for what the public doesn’t want. Here’s insinuating that politicians have no idea what their constituents want and when voting, should go against their judgment, since that is what the public wants.
The next passage, which is the last paragraph on page 176, is another passage poking fun at politicians. Here’s an excerpt:
“…you take leaders of each party, find a couple whose heads are nearest of a size; then let two operators saw off the occiput of each, so the brain is equally divided. Let the occiputs be interchanged, applying the head of his opposite party-man.”
This passage is basically saying that politicians can never agree, and the only solution is to cut their brains in half, so that the two parties can each occupy one part of the brain, in hopes of actually coming to solutions in government. I think that so far, in this book, this is the most satirical passage I’ve come across. Swift is just blatantly making fun of politicians and the government in general, which seems pretty significant.
A passage I found that was really significant to me is on page 176, the third paragraph and running to the top of page 177. It is when Gulliver is speaking with the ingenious doctor that was well-versed in the system of government. Here’s an excerpt:
“He likewise directed, that every Senator in the great Council of a Nation…should be obliged to give his vote directly contrary; because if that were done, the result would infallibly terminate in the good of the public.”
This passage literally made me laugh out loud. To me, it shows that Swift is just making fun of politicians here. He’s saying that when politicians vote, they always seem to vote for what the public doesn’t want. Here’s insinuating that politicians have no idea what their constituents want and when voting, should go against their judgment, since that is what the public wants.
The next passage, which is the last paragraph on page 176, is another passage poking fun at politicians. Here’s an excerpt:
“…you take leaders of each party, find a couple whose heads are nearest of a size; then let two operators saw off the occiput of each, so the brain is equally divided. Let the occiputs be interchanged, applying the head of his opposite party-man.”
This passage is basically saying that politicians can never agree, and the only solution is to cut their brains in half, so that the two parties can each occupy one part of the brain, in hopes of actually coming to solutions in government. I think that so far, in this book, this is the most satirical passage I’ve come across. Swift is just blatantly making fun of politicians and the government in general, which seems pretty significant.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Blog Post #2 - "The state can't hug children."
As I was reading through the first portion of Gulliver’s Travels, I came across a passage that really hit home for me and I could easily relate to. It also helps explains the Lilliputians a little more, but I was mostly taken aback as to how this passage reminds me of one of my biggest role models and favorite teachers throughout my schooling. The passage is as follows:
“… For the Lilliputians think nothing can be more unjust, than for People, in subservience to their own Appetites, to bring Children into the World, and leave the Burthen of supporting them on the public.”
Concerning the nation of Lilliput and the inhabitants of it, this passage shows that the Lilliputians care about their kin. They feel that if you bring them into the world, you tend and care for them. I think this shows that their morals and values are in the right place and shows us that their beliefs aren’t really far from our own.
On a separate note, this passage really relates to me. My favorite teacher, coach, and role model in my life, Mr. Jerry Becker, has been apart of my life for as long as I remember. But, when I read this passage in Gulliver’s Travels, a certain memory of Coach Becker popped into my head. During his College Government lectures my junior year of high school, he would always splice in little life lessons during his class, and one of his most-stated lesson and most passionate advice was this:
“Never, and I repeat, NEVER, bring children into this world unless you can care and provide for them. Do NOT bring children into this world and expect the state to take care of them. The state cannot hug children.”
The passage in Gulliver’s Travels is almost identical to what Mr. Becker always said to us kids. For me, I found that pretty interesting, as well as significant… well, in my eyes at least.
“… For the Lilliputians think nothing can be more unjust, than for People, in subservience to their own Appetites, to bring Children into the World, and leave the Burthen of supporting them on the public.”
Concerning the nation of Lilliput and the inhabitants of it, this passage shows that the Lilliputians care about their kin. They feel that if you bring them into the world, you tend and care for them. I think this shows that their morals and values are in the right place and shows us that their beliefs aren’t really far from our own.
On a separate note, this passage really relates to me. My favorite teacher, coach, and role model in my life, Mr. Jerry Becker, has been apart of my life for as long as I remember. But, when I read this passage in Gulliver’s Travels, a certain memory of Coach Becker popped into my head. During his College Government lectures my junior year of high school, he would always splice in little life lessons during his class, and one of his most-stated lesson and most passionate advice was this:
“Never, and I repeat, NEVER, bring children into this world unless you can care and provide for them. Do NOT bring children into this world and expect the state to take care of them. The state cannot hug children.”
The passage in Gulliver’s Travels is almost identical to what Mr. Becker always said to us kids. For me, I found that pretty interesting, as well as significant… well, in my eyes at least.
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