Elements of Satire Gulliver’s Travels

Definition Satire: a literary work that makes fun of a subject by ridiculing and demeaning it.

Elements of Satire Must attack an institution (government, politics, religion, education ect) Must be humorous Must use responsibility (in other words it cannot outwardly mock anything that could damage the writer’s reputation or ruin the fabric of society)

Elements of Satire There must be a clear target (it cannot be obvious though) Formal Language (if it does not have this it becomes slap stick comedy) Becomes like a private joke– it involves sophistication and everyone may not get it.

Elements of Satire Usually uses irony and wit Usually uses a common medium: could be a poem, debate, news report, short story etc. A good satire should make the reader/watcher think

Purpose of Satire Satire’s purpose is to bring about change! This makes it different from a Parody which simply makes fun of an individual or institution for comic effect Satire usually asks us to see what is around us and consider it.

Gulliver’s Travels Fantasy: Literature in which the limits of reality are purposely disregarded Swift’s commentary on the 200-year-old religious divisions between Catholics and Protestants in England

Gulliver’s Travels Also reflects the rancorous political split between the Tories and the Whigs Tories (Catholic): obedient to the crown and the Church of England (Swift supported this party) Whigs (Protestant): wanted to limit the powers of the Church and the crown

Satire in Gulliver’s Travels Big Endians and Small Endians This refers to the argument with the country across the sea as to which side of the egg to break This is a reference to the warring between France (Protestants) and England (Roman Catholics) over land and religion. Remember both are Christian countries. The reference to the Emperor cutting his finger as he broke the egg, is an allusion to King Henry VIII (remember the King with all the wives, father of Queen Elizabeth) who created the Church of England and “broke” the Catholic hold on England.

Emperor of Lilliput The Emperor is actually a satire of King George I. He is the ruler that succeeds the throne after Queen Anne and is ruling when swift writes the novel. King George was actually German and gains the throne through marriage.

More on the Emperor He was a militant leader He hated living in England and refused to learn English. He would often yell at his advisors in German and then get even more angry when they couldn’t understand him. He was hated by the English people. He and his family were gross, humorless, mean, and ill-tempered. This made them the objects of much ridicule including Swift’s. Even his son hated him. He was incredibly fat and stupid as well.

Emperor Continued Despite King George’s unattractiveness, he had several mistresses (equally unattractive). His wife tried to elope with another man, her lover was mysteriously found dead. His wife was imprisoned for 32 years until her death. In the meantime, George had to infamous mistresses. One was 60 years old and so skinny the people called her “Maypole” Another was so fat they called her “Elephant”

Satire in Gulliver’s Travels The High Heels and the Low Heels This refers to the political parties in England at the time Swift is writing. The High Heels are the Tories - the party that believes in the power of the King and the church (Catholic). Most Tories did not support King George. The Low Heels are the Whigs (the party that believes in having a parliament that checks the power of the king - Protestant). The Emperor at one point favors the Low Heels and wears them himself. Eventually the Emperor wears one low and one high heal. This is a direct correlation to King George’s attempt to appears as not to favor one party over another.

Elections in Gulliver’ Travels In Gulliver’s Travel’s, Gulliver witnesses a strange ribbon dance that is used to choose the next elected officials in Lilliput. The rope dancers = Whig party politicians under King George whose “acrobatics” (i.e., political maneuverings) were intended to increase their power. Swift is commenting on the absurdity of English elections. While the people could choose who would represent them in Parliament, the King could buy votes of both the people and Parliament by promising Cabinet positions, land and titles. In other words, the elections did not represent the will of the people but rather their greed and are as absurd as choosing a government based on their ability to dance.

Gulliver’s Travels Flimnap, the Treasurer – represents the Whig leader, Sir Robert Walpole Colored threads represents the Order of the Garter, the Order of Bath, and the Order of Thistle. These were orders of knighthood revived by Walpole, possibly given to reward submissiveness to the king, not to reward merit.

Gulliver’s Travels Account of Blefuscu France encouraged British Catholics to revolt, provided a safe harbor for Catholic exiles from Britain, and engaged in war with Britain over the issue.