paper:3,Literary theory and criticism.Wordsworth as critic

NAME                :      GOHIL  HETALBA. I.

ROLL NO.         :      12

SUB                    :      Literary Theory & Criticism

M.A.                   :      SEM – I

TOPIC               :      Words Worth as a Critics

GUIDED BY     :      Dr. DILIP BARAD

SUBMIT TO      :      Department of English

                                  Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji                               Bhavnagar University

v    Wordsworth as a Critics :

          Wordsworth was born in 1770 and died in 1850. He was primarily a poet and not a critics. He belongs to the age of Romantic critics. His views on Poetry are extremely important and can be found in the preface to the Lyrical Ballads' (1800). The preface was first published as a short advertisement in 1798. In 1800 AD he wrote the detailed preface and in 1803 he further prefacted the preface. Coleridge claimed that the 1802 preface was an 'Half a child of my own brain. The most important addition in the 1802 preface is the long account of nature, qualification and functions of a poet, the demonstulation of his functions of a poet, the demonstolation of his superiority over the mas of poetic pleasure. World scoolth added an appendix on poetic diction.

          The aim of writing the preface was to introduce  to the readers poems of a new kind, both in theme and style. Wordsworth evaluate early poetry and how new poetry is different and can be appereciated. The dominan theme of the preface is words worth view of poetic diction and thus subject of poetry.  

v    Wordsworth Conception of poetry :

          After his attack on the diction of the Neo-classical poets and the poets of his time wordsworth moves to his conception of poetry and its function. Wordsworth defines poetry as 'The spentaneous' ever flow of powerful feelings recollected in tranquility. The two parts of the definition are opposite to each other. The first one is sudden while the second one suggests a deliberate recalling to memory thus wordworth is giving an idea  of a poetic process. It suggests both emotional and mental activities. The four stages in the poetic composition are :

Ø    Observation

Ø    Recollection

Ø    Contemplation

Ø    Imaginative expression

          In this way, wordsworth has give emphasise to emotion but he has also indicated that emotion has to be expressed by thought. The critics view of the poet gives the poet a very high status.

          According to him the poet is a man speaking to man. He differs from other men not in nature but in the degree of talent. The poet wordsworth says is a the man of greater sensibility, observation, reflection imagination and has great powers of communication. He can see what other cannot see and he can communicate his comprehending to the soul of the readers.

          Talking about the function of poetry wordsworth says that it gives him pleasure. By pleasure here, he means knowledge and understanding. He considers poetry to be superior to history philosophy and science. For wordsworth poetry is the pursuit of the truth and a great force for good. He differs from neo-classical critics because for him poetry appeals to feelings and not the intellect.

          Wordsworth's view on meters makes a distinction between use of metre and the use of poetic diction. The use of metre are fixed. It gives the sense of restrained contrast, it gives pleasure by softening the emotion, grace and dignity and shows the skills of the poet. But in diction he says there are no rules but he advocates the use of simple everyday language. Words worth's theory of poetic diction is very important but it thus been criticized, Coleridge was the first to criticize his theory of landing. Diction is not just words but also arrangement of words, imagery, etc wordsworth does not define what he meant by fiction.

          Wordsworth said that the language of the rustics need purification Coleridge says in that case threre will be no difference between rustics diction and diction of others. Secondally he fells that there is no difference between language of poetry and prose. Criticizing him Coleridge point out that the use of metre and the arrangement of words in a poem makes poetry different from prose. T.S. eliot also points out that wordsworth on one hand talk about using the real language of men and on the other hand he speaks of selection. This is nothing but contradictory views.

          The literary criticism of William wordsworth is usually considered the menifesto of the English romantic movement. The single for the break with the age of neo-classicism. After severe criticism by other critics wordsworth had to write criticism in self defence and justification of the type of poetry he was writing. only a through study of his critical writings can prove his worth as a literary critics and can also bring originality of his views with regard to the natural of poetry, poetic creation, and poetic diction.

v    Importance of "Preface to the 'Lyrical Ballads" :

          With sidney's 'Apology for poetory' and shelley's 'Defence of poetry' wordsworth's preface is also a critical document of great importance. It has an account of creative process of a great poet. This nation  gave a blow to faulty poetic diction of the 18th century and then came a fresh breeze in the hot-house of literary conventions.

v    Theory of Poetry :

          Words worth was against the stereotyped mode of writing. According to him the faculty of recreating an emotion belongs to the poet. Words worth believes that the artistic creation is the result of observation, impressions, fellings, thoughts, and their interactions. 'Tintern Abbey' and 'Yarrow Revisited are examples of this type of poetries. Subject matter was chosen from humble and rustic life the passion of heart find a better place in which they can attain their maturity. Words worth rejects the use of personifications in poetry, because personifications do not form a part of the language really used by men words worth recommends naturalness and universality.

          Words worth criticism marks the beginning of a new Romantic school of criticism. He was against the new-classical attitude because their was no slope for originality and freedom. Wordsworth's value to English literary criticism is very significant.

v    Wrods worth's Achievements as a Critics :

          Words worth is not among the best English critics and his position as a critics is not as high as that of Coleridge. But still his criticism has a value and wordsworth was against neo-classism in his views on the nature of poetry. Poetic diction and also in his Judgement of poetry. The neo-classicists believed in set rules and principles and adhered to them closely and rigidly either when writing poetry or when judging poetry. Wrodsworth posed and important problem – that a poem might be flawless and perfect from the point of view of metre diction etc and yet it may fall to please the reader. The ultimate test of the beauty and literary excellence of a work therefore, is not in its out wardly perfect structure but somewhere else. It lies, according to wordsworth, in the healthy pleasure which a poem afforded to the reader. Thus words worth gave first priority to pleasure in poetry than to any other thing in it. This impression istic approach towards literature was a major contribution to English critical idea. He says good poems are produced only by a man who has thought long and deeply.

v    The main defect of words worth :

          His defect as a critic is that he shows a lack of balance in his critical approach. He constantly overstates in everything. There is some truth in most of the things he says but it is marred by his tendency to over state wordsworth says that impolished language of rustic is the only fit medium of poetic composition. He confronted in demolishing outmoded beliefs and principles and of course, nobody can criticise a dogma without himself becoming a little dogmatic.

v    Theory of Poetic diction in Words worth :

          Words worth is the English critic of Romantic Age. People's tendency arose towards  Romanticism. The broke off from the neo-classical ideas. Wordworth and coeridge are considered to be the beginners in Romanticism. In it he discussed Theory of poetry subject matter of poetry, theory of poetic, diction etc. Today I am going to discuss. The Theory of poetic diction in the preface to the Lyrical Ballads.

          Basically wordswroth is a poet, However, his criticism is small  but whatever he says about poetry is full of sincerity, passion and truth. He knows about poetry in real sense and whatever he says is valuable and worth thinking. When wordsworth started writing, it was the Era of Neo-classical criticism. When poetry was judged on the basis of rules devised by Aristotle and other ancients, who cared for rules, forms but ignored the substance the soul of poetry. He is the first critic who turned from the form of the poetry to the substance. He is the first critics who builds the theory of poetry. His emphasis is on novelty. Experiment liberty, inspiration and imagination as contrasted with the classical's emphasis on authority, restraint and tradition.

          Poetry is communication and it is the pleasure that poet communicates. Traditionally it has been believed that the function of the poetry is to interest and delight but words worth says that the function of the poetry is to give pleasure. Words worth says that poetry is most Philosophical.

          Regarding process of poetic creation he says that all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. The process of storm is claim when the man recollects some past emotional experience.

          Wordsworth's preface has been badly criticised by some of the contemporary critics but the preface is probably the most important single document in the History of English criticism. It provide the readers his most important views and reforms on poetry.

          Wordsworth insists on humble and rustic life. He also talks of simple language. Which is rustic and simple.  

v    Conclusion :

          Wordsworth loved nature so his themes are also natural. His language is also natural. He says that there is neither and nore can be any difference between language of prose and verse. The only difference is that the poet uses metre. Words worth says since metre add an additional source of pleasure so it is useful. The poet speaks through the character so his language should be proper and a simple diction should be prefered.

          In those days most of the writers or poets glorified Royal families where as wordsworth wants the glory of all. He wants the poets to write and communicate in such a way that no class remains untouched. He wants to write in local language as our Tulsidas write Ramayan in the local dialect again as the original in Sanskrit seemed though for common people.

Re-writing the myth of Ramayana In Kanthapura

NAME: GOHIL HETALBA I.

ROLL NO.  : 12

PAPER : Indian Writing in English

M.A. 1  SEM – I

TOPIC : Re-writing the myth of Ramayana

In Kanthapura

SUBMITTED TO,

 Department of English

Maharaja Krishanakumarsinhji 

Bhavnagar University

YEAR: 2012 – 2013

     The Re-writing of Myth of Ramayan in Kanthapura

              

Introduction :

          Raj Rao was born in 1909 in the village of Hassana in Mysore. He lived in France from 1908 to 1939, returned to India on the outbreak of world war – I in 1940. It was in France, thousands of miles away form India, that his first novel, Kanthapura was written. He won the sanity Academi Award for his the serpent & the Rope which has been called the best Indo-Anglian novel ever written. He was awarded the Padma Bhysam by the Government of India in 1969.

          He gives a glowing descriptor of the village, 'Kanthapura'. There are five passage of outstanding description which reach poetic climax. Moorthy gets so much engrossed in the congress movement that he ignores even his mother's affection. His education and study of various cultures & languages led him to condemn idol worship and he believed that mankind should adopt simple living and high thinking. In 1828 he founded the Brahmo samay in culcutta as he thought universal brotherhood needed to be emphasized and he did not believe in caste, creed and nationality. He believed in equality for the women and encouraged Hindus to leave aside the meaningless beliefs, superstitions and custom and instead look into the true essence of Hindusim. He was indeed the father of modern India.

          He didein 1833 during a visit to Bristol England and in 1997, a statue was built in memory of this great forword thinking reformer in the same city.

          Raja Rao's Kanthapura has a reconstruction of his own village Harihalli or Hariharapura Kanthapura has a reconstruction of his own village Harihalli or Kanthapura is the miniature of India. This book gives us social, political, religious, and mythical scenario of 1930s. Kanthapura deals with the condition of Indian. Village during the struggle for Indepence. The villager when the meet, they don't say 'How are you?' How do you do ? or 'Good Morning', but they say 'Ram Ram', 'Sita Ram', etc They are fond of tale – telling and tate – listning, probably because they used to recite and transmit epic and purans from generation to generation as also from their love for mythicizing.

          In 'Kanthapura' tales within tales are found like cabbage peels. Tales form mythology became part of their life that trequently leave their conversation with them. Noorthy and seenu becomes Rama and brother laxman, needing a sita to make the picture complete. Sometimes Morrthy becomes prahalad and Hanusman. Mohandas Gandhi comes to destroy the Red-men as Krishna had the serpent Kali, Gandhi and Moorthy are compared respectively to Ram and Hanuman were as Jawaharlal to Bharath. The people believe that Gandhiji might not have to go to sea to manufacture salt because the gods might spare this ordeal even before his vow is fulfilled as they had for Harish – Chandra.

          According to a critic – "There are no exact points of correspondence in those analogies but they leave an immediate impact on the illiterate Indian villagers and explain to them the political situation of India in the twenties very successfully." According to Raja Rao Moorthy is to Gandhi as Hanuman is to Rama.

          The women folk in the village fraw inspiration from the great goddess showing tremendous courage when they come in contact with the British soldiers, Ramgamma a childless widow, the daughter of of learned father Ramkrishnayya of the Brahmin community, in the course of the novel becomes the source of inspiration not only for the women of the village but also for young men who look up to her as aunt Rangamma. She emerges as the symbol of courage and boldness or otherwise can be seen as Kenchamma the incarnate.

          Rangamma grew up listerning to her father read chapters from puranas and discussed ved with him. She used to listen to Harikatha. Were men are glorified as destroyer of evil and protector of the weak. Later, Moorthy, followed of Gandhiji, draws parallels from epics like Ramayana, Rama stands for Gandhiji, abducated sita for the country under British rule and Ravan, the demon for British rulers. Here women are depicted as weak, helpless and dependant on men. This as psychological bearing on the innocent believe that their freedom lies in the hands of men like moorthy. While males draw paralles from purans to promote nationalism reducing the participation of women to the minimum. Moorthy quote examples from purans and epic which are fictional discourse. Rangamma wide reading helps her to persuade the innocent and ignorant villagers. She educates the women of the lite led by the contemporary women of the city (west).

          If we talk about the novelist, he is a writer who uses metaphysical themes by involving characters with imaginary ideas, out looks and backgrounds. We are forced to examine the personal political, spiritual, and cutureal values in his work kanthapura. Rao contrasts Indian Philosophy and spiritualism with western society's emphasis, on dualism and rationalism. Rao's here gain his insights into the nature of identity existence illusion and reality his work contains insights emblems mantras, metaphors, and other carries of meanings and instructions that enable the individual to achieve through his own meditations a better understanding of the self through knowledge and truth.

          The central myth of Kanthapura is givien mythical background.
The myth is of Ramayan where the story goes like this Rama is the hero and sita is his wife. Laxman  is Rama's brother. The villain is Ravana In myth Ravan. In myth Ravan wants to mary sita. He goes to forest where Rama, Laxman and Sita lived.

          Taking the advantages of Sita's loneliness in the cottage Ravan kidnaps her and brings her to Lanka. To rescue Sita from Ravan. Rama, Laxman, Hanuman and other attack Lanka-Ravan's country. They rescue Sita after a long fight.

          Here in Kanthapura the central myth is of Rama-Sita, Ravan, which is used to illustrate the fight between Mahatma Gandhi and the British is Rama and Ravan. Siva is the three eyed God so is sworaj. Parvati wooed and won Siva through Penances, so does Gandhi Endeavour to attain independence, through ordeals. Independence is like Sita swllied at the hands of Ravan and Gandhi, like Rama strives to regain her. Gandhi's visit to England for the Round Table conference if like the visit to England for the Round Table conference is like the visit of Rama to Lanka after Ravan's defeat Gandhiji as per as Indian history is concerned attended the Round Table conference in order to Negotitate for Indian Freedom. British asked support in world war and gave fake promises to free us after the world war. Anyways, its history now let's come to Kanthapura's mythical mingle.

          In Gandhiji is Rama, Jawaharlal Nehru is Bharat. Further the Mahathma is called Mohandan, Mohan is lord Krishna's name. At early age of his life he defeated venomous serpent. Same way Gandhi tries to slay the serpent of the foreign rule. Here it should be noted that Rama and Krishna both are the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Moorthy is the hero of Kanthapura who sees Lord Krishna safe on the pipal leat and Prahlad safe through the fire. Moorthy Ram and Seenu – Laxman are to be seen. The agent of the Swami also uses the notion of Ram Rajaya and of the rule of ten headed Ravan.

          The technique of story telling is Indian and like the technique of the Mahabharat and the Ramayan. it tells an interesting tale, without Punctuating and Prepositions but developing the tempo of Indian life. The technique corresponds with the theme. The grandma narrates the story, through in English is an idiom, different from that at the British and the corresponds to a generation caught in the of exploitation, injustice and slavery the yearn for independence. Kanthapura is a tediously long tale.

          The Indian sensibility is best shown in the images of Proverbs., Pharoses, indiums, Pictures and literal translation of Indian expression. The image are drawn from Indian mythology, legends, history and natural Phenomena found in India. It is in the image that the three strands of the story are clothed. The all embracing character of the Indian religion is conveyed through the installation and consecration of the Linya, the Rama festival, the Krishna festival and many other marked mass celebration, congregational Prayer, Drawing all segments of the society of Kanthapura to a comman frown.

          The temile has always been a seat of ancient culture & it is still a source of solace & comfort for the troubled humanity. The Kanthapuraians installed a 'Lingam' in first sighted by Moorthy, & they come everyday for Bhajans & Harikathas & religious – cum – Political meetings Moorthy fasts on the verandah of the temple which lated becomes a centre of strong political activity.

          Ranga Gowda is the symbol of commonsense & stolidity, a sort of Sardar Patel to Moorthy, the village Mahatma. The river Himavathy is her self a Presence & the Goddess kenchmma of the Hill, the Protectoress of the People & guardian of Kanthapura is also a Presence.

          Kanthapura's puranic texture is reflected in its abundant application of the Hindu myths & legends.           

               Conclusion :

          Raja Rao skillfully expolits the traditional mythological device in driving home a point an well as the south Indian folk idom in making the action of the novel authentic artistically conkncing. It is a beautiful combination of fact & fiction, myth & history.

          Kanthapura is Raja Rao's Ramayan. 

Renaissance literature:character of Eve, Adam and Satan

 Character of Adam, Eve, and Satan

NAME                :      GOHIL HETALBA I.

ROLL NO.         :      12

PAPER              :      THE RENAISSANCE                                              LITERTURE

M.A.                   :      SEM – I

TOPIC               :      Character of Adam Eve and Satan

SUBMIT TO      :      Department of English

                                  Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji                               Bhavnagar University

YEAR                :      2012 – 2013

               Character Study of Adam Eve & Satan

          Adam, Eve and Satan are the characters of an epic called paradise Lost written by John Milton. John Milton was born in London in Bread street. Cheapside on the 9th December 1608. In 1625, Milton matriculated at Christ's college, Cambridge. He obtained B.A. Degree in 1629 and his M.A. in 1632 at the same university. He was born in the period of religious and political strite.  There was a blow of literature in his time. He got blind in his later days. He died on 8th November, 1674 a month short of his sixty-sixth birthday.

          Milton's important works are :

Ø    On, the moarning of christ's nativity (1629).

Ø    L' Allegro (1631).

Ø    II penseroso (1631)

Ø    Arcades (1633 or 1634)

Ø    Lycidas (1637)

Ø    Comus A mask (1634)

Ø    Paradise Lost (1658-1665)

Ø    Paradise Regained (1666)

Ø    Samson Agonistes (1667)

          Paradise Lost was first published in 1667 and the second edition was published in 1674. The use of blank verse instead of rhyme for paradise lost and epic poem, was a blod innovation.

          Milton was a Christian poet and got Christian theme in paradise lost. This epic shows him as a Christian Humanist using all the resources of the European literary tradition that had come down to him – biblical, medieval, classical renaissances pagan, Jewish & Christian.

          Paradise lost deals with the rebellion of the angels, the creation, the temptation of the poem is taken party from books of the old testament of the Bible. The table of this epic poem, as Milton tells it, may roughly be divided into three parts ! the rebellion of the angel and their material strife with God (Books I, II, III and the greater part of V and VI), the creation of mankind the intercession of messiah and the condition of Messiah and the condition of Man's existence (touched on in Books I, IV and Part of V, VII and VIII); and the wiles of satan against man, the tranggless of eve and Adam and their expulsion from paradise (Book IX – XII).

          Paradise Lost is the product of a puritan's prolonged meditations on the Bible. He allows himself complete liberty in interpreting it. He retells is as one who bears all the burden of contempovlary in interpreting it. He knowledge whose personality is inense and self centered and who has little dramatic sence. He projects himself, his feelings, knowledge and as piration into the characters of his epic, both primitive human creatures the super and the human beings whether they belong to heaven or hell. Milton was capable of vast conceptions. He could present the universe with a sense of its immensity which leaves for behind and the curous, grotesque and complicated conceptions of Dante in 'The Divine Comedy'.

          Paradise lost is colossal epic, not of man or a hero, but of the whole race of man. Milton's characters are such as no human hand could adequctely portray. But the scenes, the splendours of Heaven, the horrors of Hell, the serene beauty of paradise, the sun and planets suspended between celestial light and gross darkness are pictured with an imagination that is almost superhuman. Let's see these through the portrayal of Adam, Eve and Satan.

               Adam :

          Adam is the first man on earth. He is the symbol of strength. He is very strong. He is intelligent. He lives in the Garden of Eden which is paradise. He was little inferior to God. He was little inferior to god. He always obeyed God, the most superior one of all the creation. He is the father of mankind and the ruler of paradise lost. He is a strong willed man with extra ordinary wit.

          Before the fall, he was a perfect man. The best human being one can imagine. He is very attractive in look. He is mentally sound. His spirituality is also profound. He possesses all in the qualities of a perfect person epic. He is the most ancient man who is the head of mankind. He lived a peaceful and happy life at Eden. Eve was produced to give him company. They lived happily in the Garden of Eden sharing their work with each other. Their companionship could be role model for mankind. Unfortunately things went wrong in heaven Satan and his companions rebelled against god. They were thrown to Hell for ever Satan decided to ruin God's creation thus giving a below to God.

          Saten started search for God's new creation. He found the victim in the form of eve. He tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Eve ate the fruit. Adam's and Eve's doom changed. Adam also ate the fruit and came the problems in their life with life.

          Before the fall, Adam had enormous capacity of logical reasoning. He could understand the most problematic idea quickly. We can find his capacity when he talks to Rephael who is God's angle. We can see through witty debates that he in nearly equal to Raphael. He could easily understand the interesting tales told by Raphel.

          But when he talks to Michael his visions is significantly selfish and onesided. His personality is changed as he tasted the fruit of the Tree of knowledge. One could easily mark the difference between his conversation with Rapheal and Michael. His self awareness and fury after fall represents his new ability to involve himself in rash and irrational attitudes. Because of the disobedience of God's command, he loses his purity of reasoning and intellectual abilities.

          Adam's weakness is his love for Eve. 'From his experience in life, Milton had come to the conclusion that the danger to a man's soul lay in woman, a danger which was great in proportion of his capacity for love. To him woman was man's inferior, an imperfect creature, dangerous, it she were not kept in cheak.' Adam starts loving her as soon as he sees her. He is blinded by her beauty. He confesses his over whelming affection for her to Raphael also. It was deep affection that tempted him to disobey God and be with Eve.

          He did not want to loose her. Eve has become his companion for life and thus is not ready to depart from her.

               Eve :

          Eve is created with a purpose. She is to accompany Adam as he was alone 'Milton's eve is charming and capricious, coquettish and way- ward incapable of sound reasoning and an easy prey to sophistry. Eve is little inferior to Adam she surpasses Adam only in her beauty. It seems Adam only in her beauty. It seems here as it Milton is unjust to woman as he though them to be inferior to man. She loves her-self very much. When she sees her own image in water she falls in love with her own image. Her beauty creates  trouble for her in future. Her most important device produces her most serious weakness and vanity in her self.

          Satan was in search of weakness in man. He got an opportunity to invade on God's creation. Satan comes to her and compliments her on her glorious beauty and godiness. He easily persuades her to eat the Tree of knowledge. Contrasting this literature Indian literature has created many strong female character.

          A part beauty. She was intelligent.  She was spiritually pure. She had little weaker will she could be tempted easily. She is not ambitious to learn from Raphael or Michael. She was to be guided by somebody. God wanted Adam to guide her but she seemed less interested in getting knowledge. She does not become more intelligent or learned as the story develops. Yet, we can see her attaining the starting point of wisdom by the end of the epic. She never accompanied Adam when he conversed with the Angels like Raphael and Michael. The reason behind her lack of wisdom may be due to this. She tells Adam to trust her.  She is eager to be a woman of free will. She wants to break the bondages. She dominates Adam, while eating the fruit of knowledge. Also she wants to do her Job alone and doesn't want to share. She is eager to be on her own.

          Eve's strengths are her ability for love, feeling and forebearnes. She is able to convince Adam to stay with her after fall also. She is stopped committing suicide by Adam. Sometimes she corrects Adam. Also, she becomes his strength. She corrects his weakness. Milton here upgrade female Adam and Eve together makes society Eve with positive attitude can make illustrative society. They are the representatives of a good society and civilized people. Both are supplement to each other.

               Satan :

          One of the most significant traits of satan's character is that he is identified with Milton. William Blake said : 'Milton was of the Devils (satan) Party without knowing it'. Satan is energetic like Milton. Satans pride too comes from Milton. Milton has pairs his own fellings and emotions into satan. Satans views about (Belial are identity with Miltons) The reign of Charles II satan is considered just only as a part of Milton's character but also a part his mind. The first two books of paradise lost describes the grandeur of satan.

          Satan possesses many qualities of head and heart. His portrayal is heroic figure. His physical dimensions and strong weapons tempt many critics to call him the hero of the epic. His personality is dominant. He remains one of the greatest creation in English literature. The figure of satan has been magnificently conceit. He can be compared with Ravan, the villain of Ramayan by Valmiki. Along with the Physical strength Milton has bestowed satan with intelligence and will Power. He is courageous both physically and spiritually. He says 'The mind is its own place and in its can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell Heaven. He loved liberty and is embroidery of freedom. He rebels God's authority for the sake of liberty. He can need more tolerate dictatorship. Shelley a Byron call him the champion of libber. He had qualities of leadership. He is the recognized leader of the rebellious angels. He says 'Better to reign in ideal, than server in Heaven'. He was a skillful orator. There are contradict and absurdities in the speech of political and leaders in military to way the large audiences. He surpasses the military commanders like Alexander the Great, Napolean and Hitler. Inspire of his gigantic personality. He is no devoid of emotions.

          Satan is ambitious. His speech against God. Shows his wisdom. He is the embodiment of evil. He is flatter and selfish. His character has merits and demerits. He can be called a tragic figure. Shakespeare's tragic hero, Macbeth can be compared with him. Satan is evils personification Satan is clever. He is eager to revenge God. He comes to earth and tempts Eve to eat the fruit of Tree of knowledge. Which is forbidden by God. He convinces Eve to do so. It can be said that Milton's hero Satan, was born to rule and not to be ruled.

          Milton has been successful in depicting the fable in the way he wanted Many Indian epics posses episodic tragic heroes like satan of Milton. They used to get energy through boons and penance. Most of them had supernatural power.

A Critical Exposure of Fictional Illusion in Gulliver's Travels

NAME                      :        GOHIL HETALBA I.

ROLL NO.              :        12

M.A. SEM – I

SUB                          :        THE NEO-CLASSICAL LITERATURE

TOPIC                     :        A CRITICAL EXPOSURE OF

                                           FICTIONAL ILLUSION IN

                                           GULLERVER'S TRAVELS

SUBMITTED TO    :        Department of English

                                           Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji University

GUIDED BY            :        Dr. DILIP BARAD

                                           HEENABA ZALA

Ø    Introduction

Swift came from of an English family which had settled in Dublin of Ireland. He was born in Dublin on the 30^th November, 1667. He was let in the care of an uncle of his by his mother who returned to England. His uncle gave him the best education available in Ireland. At college, swift was often at war with the authorities, and he was not of a very studious turn of mind; but he got success in getting his degree in 1685. He was dominated by permission. He is the master of the concrete world; he knows how to witilize the concrete world. The concrete facts of experience, as well as he ideas, the sentiments, and the shades of meaning find expression in the most simple vigorous and straight – forward prose. A great variety of tone is achieved. The language is flexible to the most famous of all the works of swift. The full little of Swift’s famous work is Travels into several remote of the world in four parts, by lemuel Gulliver, first a surgeon and, then a captain of several ships.

Ø    Four Voyages in Brief

                   The book is divided into four parts which describes Gulliver’s voyage to different countries.

                   Part 1 describes Gulliver’s voyage to a country known as Lilliput and his experiences in that country. Part 2 describes his voyage to Brobdingnag and his experience. Part 3 deals with his voyage to some countries like Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdrib, Luggnagg, and Japan. Part 4 tells about his voyage to the country of houghnhnms and the yahoos.

Ø   The Voyage to Lilliput in Part 1

                   In this part, religious and political division are humorously mingled. The foolishness of political and religious fantasy is exposed with the help of quarrels between the High – Hells and Low – Hells and between the Big – Endians and the Little – Endians where blood of thousands of people has been shed. When the emperor’s heels are described as lower than those of anybody else at the court, the reference is to the preference shown by King George. I to the Whigs. Many other allusions may also be traced. In addition to all this, some of Gulliver’s remarks, on the institutions of Lilliput serve as useful comments upon the legal policy of his own country, England: for instance when he mentions that the Lilliputians treated fraud as a great crime then stealing, and alludes to their policy in rewarding merits as well as punishing vice.

Ø   The Voyage to Brobdingnag in Part 2

                   In this Part of the novel, Swift shows as the people of immense stature. These people are gifted with a sound and cool judgment, look at the principle and politics of Europe. Here satire has general nature. Some particular references to political events; and no circumstances are mentioned which are not applicable to all place. While Lilliput was a land inhabited by pigmies or dwarfs, Brobdingnag is the land of giants or of persons of an immense stature.

Ø   The Voyage to Laputa in Part 3

                   In this Part, the abuses of science are the aim of satire. Swift’s target here are the projectors who, leaving their common sense behind them, wander into the vast regions of speculative philosophy. It is noticeable here that the satire is not aimed at true science but its hazards.

Ø   The Voyage to the Land of the Houyhnhnms and the yahoos in Part 4

                   In this Part the satire is intense. This Voyage represents mankind in a light too degraded for contemplation, and the satire is too exaggerated. The author succeeded in portraying the disgusting yahoos. The houyhnhnms, are devoid of all those tender passions and affections without which life become a burden. The houyhnhnms do not appeal to us as models of perfection.

                   Every satirist is a reformer, as satire always aims at correcting human to lies and human vices, Swift had focused attention upon the follies and vices of all mankind and not merely the English society of his time. Being pessimist Gulliver could not bear the vices in mankind. With the help of fictional illusion he decided to expose the vices of mankind without leaving a single vice untouched. He presents almost all the vices prevailing in the mankind satirically. Gulliver Travels is a great satirical masterpiece up to today.

                   Gulliver’s Travels is one of the greatest work of satire which is in the form of Travel book. One on hand it’s just a comic book or travelogue for children but on the other hand it satirizes human vices. In those days this book became very popular. People enjoyed his adventurous journey to different lands.

                   Swift’s real purpose, however, in writing the novel seems to rebuke mankind for its follies, absurdities and evil ways.

Ø   Swift a master of Satire

                   A Satire may roughly and briefly be destined as a humorous or witty exposure. A Satire can be defined as a means by which the author can expose the reality of individuals, communities, or all mankind by employing irony, monkey, ridicule, sarcasm, and even invective as the weapons of attack. Swift uses all the above means to succeed in satirizing. He uses irony in double way. He is a master of corrosive satire is serious and capable of becoming. In this way one can say that the author’s object in writing the book is to make people realize their irrationality and to encourage them to develop their rational faculty and guide by it. Thus it can be said that swift had a moral or ethical aim in writing this fiction.

Ø   The Satire full of Allegories

                   In an allegory a person or institution is not attacked directly but they are attacked indirectly. ‘ Animal farm ’ of George or well is one of the best examples of effective writing. In this book in Part 1 the Treasurer in Lilliput, is a satirical portrayal of Sir Robber creates hatred. This corrosive type of satire is fully developed in book 5 of Gulliver’s Travels. The first Part is rich in comic fictional illusion.

Ø   Satire used for Moral Purpose

                   Satire of all types always aims to reform. Swift aims at amending and correcting his readers but he is doubtful whether he could reach his goal or not. Swift in his letter to Alexander Pope wrote that his purpose in writing the book was ‘to vex the world rather than divert it !’ Actually he desired to shock his readers into a realization of their faults his readers into a realization of their faults and failings. According to Swift ‘man is not a rational animal’ though man is certainly Walpole who was the Prime minister of England from 1715 to 1716 and again from 1721 to 1742. Dancing on a tightly tied rope allegorized Walpole’s skill in parliamentary tactics and political intrigues same way, Reldresal represents Lord Carteret who was appointed by Walpole to the office of Lord carters who was appointed by Walpole to the office of Lord lieutenant of Ireland. Further one of the king’s cushion’s talks about of King George’s mistresses who helped to restore warped to favor after his fall in 1717. The conflict between High – Heels and Low – Heels represents the contict between the two main parties of England i.e. Whig and Tory. The quarrel between Big – Endians and the Little – Endians symbolizes the quarrels between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants. The incident of extinguishing a fire in queen’s apartment and the queens reaction is an example of queen Anne’s description of annoyance with swift for writing ‘A tale of a Tube’ another boot which attracted religious abuses but the queen misinterpreted it as an attack on religion. The pigmies of Lilliput and the giants of Brobdingnag depicts human beings first reduced to a small scale, as it seen through a magnifying glass. Symbols of animals are given in Part 4. In this Part yahoos symbolizes mankind without any good quality, while the houyhnhnms (the horses) shows human beings with their good qualities. They were perfect and have no bad qualities at all.

Ø   The Scope of Satire in this Illusionary Novel

                   In the first Part, English Politics is satirized. The Politicians monarchs, religious disputes of the contemporary England are satirized. Here the Satire is somewhat personal as minister like Walpole and queen Anne as well King George are satirized. Swift had grudge in mind for them. Swift also satirizes on the people of his own country. In Part 2 Swift Satire country in general. He covers his entire country and the inhabitants of his motherland. He gives the whole account of all the ongoing of his country. He gives the account of people, the history of his land, the institutions to the King of brobdingnag. The King is annoyed hearing all the fuss and hypocrisy of his countrymen (The making) The king makes a general comment of critical and condemnatory nature on all the natives of England. In part 3 Swift’s Satire is on particular class of the country. Swift satirizes on the philosophers, scientists, academics, planners, intellectuals etc. His Satire is on all people having theoretical approach to words the life that become useless when they have to be practical. The academy of projectors in Lagado is a parody of the royal society as it was functioning in the age of the writer. Swift’s makes general satire on a particular group of people when Gulliver sees the miserable condition of the illusion of the desire to live long. There he sees immortals who are in worst condition. Here, theoreticians, historians and critics are also satirized by Swift. In this Part Gulliver interviews some of the famous dead and learns how historians and critics distort the history and misinterpreted authors like Homer Aristotle etc. In part 4, Swift’s Satire becomes universal. He targets on the whole mankind. In first three Parts his aim is only England and Europeans but here in this Part the whole man-kind is satirized. The yahoos are the symbols of the whole mankind. The evils found by the master houyhnhnhm has been discovered in yahoos are made universal. They are the vices found in human beings. Everywhere on the earth. The master houyhnhnms accuses the yahoos of being, brutal, beastly, cunning lustful, lead, gluttonerls and posses the strongest possible disposition to mischief. When Gulliver gives to his master (horse) an analysis of war and describes the chaos brought by wars, the whole account has a universal validity, same way. Gulliver’s condemnation of lawyers, judges. Physicians and government minister also goes beyond all the country boundaries, because persons belonging to these professions are all largely corrupt everywhere in the world. The houyhnhnms are the glorification and idealization of the virtuous of human beings. They are described especially of human beings. They are described especially of human reason and the human reason and the human qualities vicious and virtuous human nature are revealed by Jonathan Swift here. His scope vice of the mankind.

Ø   Comic and corrosive Satire of Swift

                   The description in first two Parts of Gulliver’s Voyages i.e. the voyage to Lilliput and the voyage to brobdingnag contains lots of comic satire. The incidents of High – Heels and Low – Heels, the incident of Big-endian and the little – Endians are really comic we are surprised at the insistence on breaking the eggs at insistence on breaking the eggs at the Big end by Lilliputians and that other insisting to break them at the little end. Secondly it makes us laugh when in Part 1 Gulliver defends the reputation of the Lilliputians lady whose name is linked in scandal. In Part many comic sense are found. The animals and insects, men and women trees and grass are of huge size of cats, dogs, monkeys, flies and wasps. Even the apples and hailstones are of huge size. The behavior of the maids at brobdingnag towards Gulliver amuses us. Part three has many factious stories. We laugh at most of the scientific projects. The project of extracting drumbeats out cumber, converting human excrement into its original food, building houses from the roof downwards to the foundation the cobwebs giving silk, production of books by using machine without using brains seen ridiculous Part 4 has almost magicable comical elements. This Part is the most pessimistic extract of the novel. It is very serious and has somber and grain elements. Here, we generally have corrosive, fierce and offensive satire. The evil side of human nature is exposed with skillful efforts of Swift. The evil side of human is exaggerated in the character of yahoos. Gulliver condemns  various classes of mankind. Gulliver makes severe satire on mankind by giving the example of his country people. He also condemns the people doing malpractices, he is extreme on the drunkards, murderer and thieves. He also takes about the vices like whoring, gambling forgery, poisoning etc.

Ø   Satire in the illusion based on the reality

                   The Satire in Part 4 is so scornful, incisive and devastating that some people cannot be convinced. Swift takes the help of exaggeration to create the true impression of the satire on the reader’s mind. One can agree with the statement that vice are more and virtues are less in human beings in the invective Part 4 the incidents are based on the facts. We cannot pretend that there is less evil and more goodness in human beings. It we consider buyers physicians bureaucrats, some private educational institutes, industrialists businessmen this can be proved easily even today.

Ø   Pride as a Satire

                   Gulliver’s Travels is also a moral tale. We find pettiness, greed pride, meanness in the novel. In the end Gulliver starts hating mankind and even his own family. Here, Swift cannot be identified with him. He points out the fatality of being extreme misanthropy. Gulliver’s attitude of complete isolation from mankind and his aversion to his own family members is not extremist misanthrope.

                   Swift does posses his view of human nature that is full of low, mean, proud, and having many evils. He through this fictional novel truly succeeded in satirizing mankind showing them mirror of their absurdities. He has exposed human nature with all types of vices leaving not a single one aside without a touch. Gulliver’s Travels is a Satire on the human vices, politics and society. It’s divided into four journeys. On first hand it seems to be a comic book but it’s grain reality of mankind.