Much of Swift’s inspiration for the scientists in this
voyage came from the Royal Society of London for the Improving of
Natural Knowledge, a scientific society founded in 1660 that
had an important effect on the development of science in Europe.
The prominent early scientists Robert Boyle, Robert Hooke, and Isaac
Newton were all members of the Royal Society. All of them, but particularly Newton,
were influential promoters of scientific theories that were at the
heart of the Scientific Revolution. The Royal Society assigned itself
the task of using the new techniques of science to improve the crafts,
but it was far more successful at discovering natural phenomena
than it was at building new, useful technologies. As a result, the Royal
Society was open to the parody created by Swift, in which absentminded
philosophers ruin a country by forcing its people to follow their
novel and wholly useless methods. Interestingly, most of the experiments
parodied by Swift had actually been proposed or carried out by British
scientists at the time of his writing.
Glubbdubdrib offers the opportunity for Swift to satirize
various historical figures, undermining their images as paragons
of virtue or learning. Gulliver’s interaction with the dead hearkens
back to Dante Alighieri’s fourteenth-century poem Inferno, in
which Dante himself travels through the various regions of hell
and witnesses sinners being punished. This imaginary tour of hell
allowed Dante the author to skewer his political opponents and enemies,
just as Swift’s imaginary wanderings allow him to ridicule certain
aspects of society. Gulliver’s visit to Glubbdubdrib is part of
Swift’s attempt in the third voyage to undercut standards of abstract
learning. At the same time, however, Swift does elevate certain
people above others. Generally speaking, the ancient Greeks and
Romans are held up as truly virtuous, whereas the Europeans who
have lived since are held up as somewhat degenerate.
The Struldbrugs of Luggnagg provide an opportunity for
Swift to satirize human desires. Many would seek eternal life, and
the primary benefit of old age, as Gulliver sees it, is the ability
to use one’s accumulated wisdom to help humanity. The reality is
much less glorious—instead of growing in wisdom, the immortal Struldbrugs grow
only more prejudiced and selfish, eventually becoming a detriment
to the whole Luggnaggian society. Furthermore, the Struldbrugs’
immense sadness despite their seeming advantage shows the emptiness
of Gulliver’s desire—a desire prominent in Western society—to acquire
riches. Swift denounces such self-absorbed goals as the province
of small minds unconcerned with the good of society as a whole.
