Comment on Swift’s portrayal of
Lamuel Gulliver.
In a novel the
hero must have a consistent character. He must be like a real human being, and so
he must not be presented as changing from Phase to Phase, but this is exactly what
happens to Gulliver. His nature changes from time to time. That is because
‘Gulliver’s travels ’is not a novel but a Satire. Gulliver is used as an
instrument of satire and so his character changes from book to book in
accordance with the needs of satire. Sometimes he acts so wisely that he makes
others look foolish. And at other times he acts like a fool. Sometimes he is
morally great while at other times he behaves like a fallen creature.
In ‘Gulliver’s
Travels’ the first character to attract our attention is Gulliver himself. He
is the narrator and the principal character. We look at things through his
eyes. We feel what he feels and share his thoughts. We remain in his company
from beginning to end. In the very beginning he gives his many insignificant
biographical details in order to create a realistic effect about his being an
authentic person. We find that in all respects he is an average person. He is
keenly observant, reasonably intelligent, thoroughly capable in an emergency,
brave and hopeful. He is simple and direct in his narration. He retains his
benevolence throughout the first there voyages, though towards the end of the
fourth voyage, he becomes morbid and almost crazy.
