A few days ago I finished reading Jonathan Swift’s classic work of satirical narrative, which was made into numerous cartoon and even film versions--Gulliver’s Travels. It has been a few months now since I made it a goal to read at least one ancient or classic literature in a month, and it’s nice to read and re-read these classics that welled from great literary minds of both the Western and non-Western traditions. While I find Gulliver’s story for the most part entertaining, I also find it hard, in some places, to understand the context of the satire and even the archaic words and spellings. Fortunately, the edition I have provides introduction on the context of Jonathan Swift’s 18th-century novel, and also lengthy notes describing word usage,
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Part Four is the last part of the book, and in here, we meet the Yahoos and the Houyhnhmns. I can’t help but burst into laughter (I was aware people were looking; they probably thought I was crazy) when it came to the part where Gulliver, the eponymous protagonist of the story, narrates to the Master of the Houyhnhmns the wars among the princes in Europe. Gulliver’s description was so precise yet so amusing! Immediately, I was reminded of the present conflict between North and South Korea and the looming destruction that will inevitably be brought about by a possible war. Let me quote from that chapter, and I do hope you will forgive me for the lengthy passage; but I also trust you will see why wars can be foolish, much like a squabble between children over a piece of candy or …show more content…
I answered they were innumerable; but I should only mention a few of the chief. Sometimes the ambition of princes, who never think they have land or engage their master in a war, in order to stifle or divert the clamour of the subjects against their evil administration. Difference in opinions hath cost many millions of lives: for instance, whether flesh be bread or bread be flesh; whether the juice of a certain berry be blood or wine; whether whistling be a vice or a virtue: whether it be better to kiss a post, or throw it into the fire: what is the best colour for a coat, whether black, white, red, or grey; and whether it should be long or short, narrow or wide, dirty or clean; with many more. Neither are any wars so furious and bloody, or of so long continuance, as those occasioned by difference in opinion, especially if it be in things
Part Four is the last part of the book, and in here, we meet the Yahoos and the Houyhnhmns. I can’t help but burst into laughter (I was aware people were looking; they probably thought I was crazy) when it came to the part where Gulliver, the eponymous protagonist of the story, narrates to the Master of the Houyhnhmns the wars among the princes in Europe. Gulliver’s description was so precise yet so amusing! Immediately, I was reminded of the present conflict between North and South Korea and the looming destruction that will inevitably be brought about by a possible war. Let me quote from that chapter, and I do hope you will forgive me for the lengthy passage; but I also trust you will see why wars can be foolish, much like a squabble between children over a piece of candy or …show more content…
I answered they were innumerable; but I should only mention a few of the chief. Sometimes the ambition of princes, who never think they have land or engage their master in a war, in order to stifle or divert the clamour of the subjects against their evil administration. Difference in opinions hath cost many millions of lives: for instance, whether flesh be bread or bread be flesh; whether the juice of a certain berry be blood or wine; whether whistling be a vice or a virtue: whether it be better to kiss a post, or throw it into the fire: what is the best colour for a coat, whether black, white, red, or grey; and whether it should be long or short, narrow or wide, dirty or clean; with many more. Neither are any wars so furious and bloody, or of so long continuance, as those occasioned by difference in opinion, especially if it be in things