Margaret Olofson

Hamilton College’s associate professor and chair of the English department, Margaret Olofson, in her article entitled “The Puritan Origins Of Gulliver’s Conversion In Houyhnhnmland” discusses the parallels of Gulliver’s conversion in Houyhnhnmland to the conversion experiences of notable Puritan writers at the time. She brings up passages from specific parts of both Swift’s text and compares the language used to that of such historical figures as John Bunyan. However, Olofson is quick to point out the differences between Swift’s ideology and that of the Enlightenment. Olofson uses cultural context, well-informed scholarly thought, and organized presentation to bring perspective to both Gulliver, and Swift.
Olofson utilizes the cultural context of the time of Gulliver’s Travels publishing date to inform the reader of exactly how Swift satirizes the experience of religious conversion. …show more content…
Olofson, in addition to citing authors of Swift’s time, also discusses the current academic thought on Gulliver’s Travels, quoting from the writing of her peers, and using their arguments as a starting point for hers. By beginning with such a strong base in knowledge that has already been peer reviewed, Olofson legitimizes the validity of her knowledge on the subject. The natural progression of Olofson’s argument, also serves as a clear roadmap to understanding the text. Olofson makes sure to introduce concepts as the reader needs, and expound upon those topics as she moves through; from the Puritans, to the reception in recent years, to her own perspective on the topic.
In conclusion, Olofson’s “The Puritan Origin’s of Gulliver’s Conversion In Houyhnhnmland,” makes a strong case for viewing Houyhnhnmland as a satire on Enlightenment theology. Olofson introduces her arguments on a solid base of academic study, and expounds upon