• (1049) ~ He has a beneficial idea acquired from an American.  It turnes out that he is proposing cannibalism.  He is using irony to make people see the logical conclusion to their attitudes toward the Irish.
• (1050) ~ let’s you know who he’s really attacking – landlords. They have devoured the Irish.  He computes in very dispassionate terms the costs & benefits of eating babies.  Only in places like this does he let his anger show through.  Such cracks is the facade are necessary, or people will think the satirist is really making such a proposal.
• Problem is in Ireland. 17^th Century, Cromwell invaded because they were Catholic and England Protestant. Obtained surface control.  After the Glorious Revolution, William of Orange quelled a rebellion.  This is why the Catholic Irish hate orange.
• Landowners were in England; exploited all profits, leaving little money for Irish
• Whigs also took advantage of cheap labor.
• (1049 & 1052) ~ women compared to cattle ("constant breeders." Hint that he is not serious.
• (1049)  His Proposal. ~ 20,000 babes would be preserved. Other 100,000 would be sold for meat. Baby skin could be used to make fine gloves.  Of course, he doesn't really want this to happen, but in the 20th century, the Germans did make gloves, lampshades, etc., with the skins of their victims.
• (1052-1053) ~ This is his actual proposal. He has in mind several steps to take that would relieve the suffering of the Irish.  Rest of story is to show British upper class the damage they are causing.
• (1054)  He claims to have no personal interest in profiting from his proposal - his children are too old to be sold as food.  Obviously, the real meaning is that he doesn't have to worry about his children being eaten, so he does have an interest in the proposal.

This is also a satire.  The "Modest Proposal" satirized essays that claim to solve social ills.
Gulliver's Travels uses the adventure novel to satirize English society.  By looking at Englond through the lense of other cultures, Swift shows us how irrational English institutions were.  This process is called making strange, i.e., making the ordinary seem strange by looking at it in a new way.

"Making Strange" – distorts size, shape of people. Makes natural/normal seem odd. Gulliver spent much time trying to explain British ways to horses who cannot understand it.
 

Overview:

• Part 1 ~ he’s captured by Little Endians; Lilliputians. They’re 6 inches tall. Very corrupt and superficial (The war between the Little Endians & the Big Endians is over whether  eggs should be broken at big/little end?  He sees a similar irrationality in the religious wars of his country.)
• Part 2 ~ This is the reverse of part 1 – Now he is captured by 60 foot giants who are morally superior. Views mankind as under a microscope or as an insect
• Part 3 ~ "Digression on Madness."  He visits Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubdubdrib, Luggnagg, and Japan.
• Part 4 ~
• Yahoos ~ savage animals who look & act like humans.
• Houyhnhms – intelligent horses who rule the island.

Part 3 Chapter 2

This chapter satirizes our own institution - the university.  The Laputans are so caught up in thinking that you can't get their attention.

• How DO you get a Laputan's attention?
• What is distinctive about their island?
• What music do they listen to?

3.  5

3. 10

Part 4

4.1

4.2

4.3

How do the Houyhnhms describe a lie?

4.4

4.5

• Describes religious conflicts in a way that makes England sound like Big Endians & Little Endians.
• What effect did English colonialism have on the original inhabitants?
• Criticizes lawyers, judges, court system.
• What are the 3 ways of getting ahead at the king's court?

4.7

4. 10

4. 11

He quotes Virgil to support his truthfulness, "nor if Fortune had moulded Sinon for misery, will she also in spite mould him as false and lying."  Of course, Sinon when he said that was lying - his job was to persuade the Trajons to bring the Trojan horse into Troy.