private-readings

[private-readings]

Gulliver's Travels Preface two

The Publisher to the Reader

Richard Sympson introduces the book as papers left with him by his friend Lemuel Gulliver. He states that his edits have consisted of cutting out passages about sea travel and geographical information, which he thinks would go above the head of the common reader, as they go above his and that he knows in doing this he might upset Gulliver. As we know from Gulliver's letter in preface one, it most certainly does. To Gulliver this information is not as unimportant as it is to Sympson. He believe it to contain his veracity.

Sympson’s prefatory letter is one of Swift’s many tactics to make the book seem like a “true” travel account rather than a piece of fiction. The letter not only refers to Gulliver as a real person, it also vouches for his honesty (and, by extension, for the truthfulness of the subsequent account). The letter also defends the book’s vagueness about geographical facts. The reader would most likely assume there aren’t any facts because the travels are just fantasies. Yet this letter claims the facts do exist and were only omitted to save the reader the boredom of reading them.

References

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/gulliver-s-travels/preface-1-the-publisher-to-the-reader

[private-readings]

Gulliver's Travels Preface one

A Letter from Capt. Gulliver, to his Cousin Sympson

A furious Gulliver, author of the original manuscript of his Travels, confronts his cousin Sympson, the publisher of his book, about the changes he has made to his story without his consent.

An intriguing introduction for Gulliver's book of travels. A question is born in the reader's mind : what is true and what is false of the story to come?

The malcontent author have three points of complaint.

(1) He does not remember giving consent that anything may be left out, much less inserted. He protests the changes, especially a passage about him praising the English queen.

(2) He complains that Sympson has muddled the details of his voyage and believes this makes his book libelous and thus caused the great deal of abuse he got for it. He wants it to be corrected and because the original manuscript was destroyed he plans to send Sympson the corrections.

(3) The publication of his book have not had the desired effect he was promised.

Throughout the letter, Gulliver refers to human beings as Yahoos [Filthy, greedy, gluttonous, selfish, and dumb, the Yahoos are the embodiment of everything gross and crude in human nature.] and laments the perverse world in which degenerate Houyhnhnms [Rational, peaceful, generous, and civilized horses, the Houyhnhnms are ideal beings (at least from Gulliver’s perspective)] are enslaved by Yahoos.

He regrets his lack of judgement by being persuaded into publishing his book with the motive of public good. In seven months the "Yahoos" have not seem to correct a single vice or folly as was intended. Infact, he is baffled that the people disputes their being and the facts he has related of them.

He knew that this would be the outcome and admits that he would have never attempted to change human nature if not for the unavoidable necessity of conversing with his own kind, but he has since given up on this "visionary scheme" for ever.

[This letter introduces the theme of perspective. Though Sympson has just expressed his edition of the text, Gulliver is furious with his edits. By accusing Sympson of falsification and libel, this letter not only calls the truth of Sympson’s letter into question, it also implies that the text to come (as edited by Sympson) is itself somehow untrue, while also therefore implying that at least some part of the narrative is true. At the same time, Gulliver’s crazy names for things and his insistent distancing of himself from human beings (“your species”) suggest that he may not be fully sane as he writes the letter. Is his claim to truth undercut by a potentially insane perspective?]

I liked Swift's approach of introducing the new themes of perspective and veracity/ fidelity. I am eager to read on.

Favourite quote: "...some of them wil not allow me to be author of mine own Travels; and others make me author of books to which I am wholly a stranger."

References

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/gulliver-s-travels/preface-2-a-letter-from-captain-gulliver-to-his-cousin-sympson

[private-readings]

The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne

“ON A FIELD, SABLE, THE LETTER A, GULES.”

Description: An ardent young woman, her cowardly lover, and her aging, vengeful husband- these are the central characters in this stark drama of the conflict between passion and convention in the harsh world of seventeenth-century Boston.

This novel comments on human sin and punishment. It is considered a masterpiece of American literature and a classic moral study. It touches subjects such as revenge, guilt, bravery and living with the consequences of your actions. The novel also crafts intriguing symmetries between social oppression and psychological repression.

A few of my favorite quotes: 

“No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.”

“It is a curious subject of observation and inquiry, whether hatred and love be not the same thing at bottom. Each, in its utmost development, supposes a high degree of intimacy and heart-knowledge; each renders one individual dependent for the food of his affections and spiritual life upon another; each leaves the passionate lover, or the no less passionate hater, forlorn and desolate by the withdrawal of his object.”

“It is to the credit of human nature, that, except where its selfishness is brought into play, it loves more readily than it hates. Hatred, by a gradual and quiet process, will even be transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the original feeling of hostility.”

“Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!”

My vote: 8/10

an enjoyable book. not one that necessarily changes your perception of the world. good use of metaphors and often includes the reader, their imagination and their morals by letting him/her choose what version of the story they will believe.

[private-readings]

I have been on this hell-hole almost four years now and have never had the guts to post anything of my own.

I mostly enjoy watching the lawlessness of tumblr and the people on it, but have finally decided to start posting my own content.

All my life I have struggled to create. I don't feel like I have anything of worth to share. I feel uncomfortable being myself, describing sensations, giving opinions, especially publically, but today that changes.

Today I start a jurney towards accepting myself as I am. I may not be the best, but that does not mean I shouldn't try.

//draaipunt