Swifts_Perception_Of_Mankind

Swifts Perception Of Mankind Spenc Swift’s Perception of Mankind In Gulliver’s Travel’s, a classic work of high adventure and political satire first published in 1726, author Jonathan Swift contemplates both the fanciful imaginings of world travel and the oftentimes governmental structures of 18th century Europe. The novel can be both enjoyed and understood on two levels: on the surface it is a story of intrigue and adventure, but the underlying theme of the novel is one of political analysis and social criticism. As the title character wanders through various foreign lands, he sees different forms and styles of government in action; forms of government similar to those found in England and continental Europe during Swift’s own life and career. Swift’s distrust and dislike of the ruling authority in his own native England is not symbolized throughout the reading, and an overall rejection of European government and society is an important thematic element of the novel. Swift – through Gulliver – seems to long for the Utopian society found in the land of the Houyhnhnms. Gulliver’s Travels – whether read as a simple story of fantasy or a intellectual social critique – stands the test of time and remains an important and highly readable piece of literature swift’s, social, swift, gulliver’s, society, seems, political, own, one, nature, basic, novel, master, lilliput, government, first, even, european, english, about, yet, voyages, voyage, travels, time, thinking, structures, seem, particularly, mankind, lilliputians, life, learning, land, issues