A Utopia in Brobdingnag, Swift's Gulliver's Travels
by Lillian Bonar
Essay: A Utopia in Brobdingnag, Swift's Gulliver's Travels
Pages: 11
Rating: 3 stars
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A Utopia in Brobdingnag
Just as the French philosopher Rabelais had an immense influence on Swift, Thomas More, the English
philosopher, also had a significant influence that one can see in Swift’,s greatest satire, Gulliver’,s Travels, especially
during Gulliver’,s voyage to Brobdingnag. In this part of the book Swift uses Utopia, More’,s writing, to emphasize
the immorality of the English, and bases his second book, set in Brobdingnag, on the ideas that More presents in
his own book. Although all Brobdingnagians do not possess all of the same qualities that the Utopians possess,
Swift uses many of the Utopian characteristics, such as morality and logic, and incorporates them into his
Brobdingnagian world.
The most prevalent and important characteristic that both Brobdingnagians and Utopians possess is the idea of
morality. In Gulliver’,s Travels Swift uses the size of the Brobdingnagians comparatively to Gulliver as an indication
of their levels of morality. As the Brobdingnagians are large giants their level of morality is high, and compared to
these highly moral people Gulliver is merely a midget, a small English man with low moral standards that stem
from his upbringing in England. The government contributes to many of these moral problems that take place in
England. However, in Brobdingnag the government is based on the characteristics of common sense, justice,
mercy, and understandable laws. It is a simple government that, unlike the government in England, has no
refinements, secrets, or mysteries. Like in Utopia, Brobdingnagians learn only specific subjects: morality, history,
poetry, and practical mathematics. They learn only what is necessary, and are not able to think in abstract ways.
Their laws must be clear, concise, and only contain twenty-two words. Commenting on the law is considered a
capital crime and receives a severe punishment. Although the laws and customs are understandable, they are also
ideal and sensible, and are followed by Brobdingnagians. These giants do what is morally correct and follow this
ideology in every aspect of their lives, which leads to their personal happiness and freedom. By lying about the
customs and institutions of England Swift shows how Gulliver is corrupted by the English system which, instead of
leading to honest human beings, caus...
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