Defoe, Swift, and the 18th-Century Mind: A Comparative Study of "Robinson Crusoe" and "Gulliver's Travels"

"Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe and "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift are two seminal works of 18th-century English literature that emerged during the Age of Enlightenment. This period, spanning roughly from the late 17th century to the late 18th century, was characterized by a profound shift in intellectual, philosophical, and cultural thought. The Enlightenment emphasized reason, individualism, and social critique, and these themes are prominent in both Defoe's and Swift's works, albeit in markedly different ways.

"Robinson Crusoe," published in 1719, is widely regarded as a pioneering work of realistic fiction and a precursor to the modern novel genre. Literary critic Ian Watt, in his influential book "The Rise of the Novel" (1957), argues that Defoe's work represents "a new realism" that "presents us with a picture of life in which the individual is primary" (Watt, 60). Watt suggests that the novel's focus on the individual's experience and psychological development marks a significant departure from earlier forms of prose fiction, which tended to focus on archetypal characters and allegorical themes.

The novel's protagonist, Robinson Crusoe, embodies Enlightenment ideals of self-reliance and individualism as he survives on a deserted island through his own resourcefulness and ingenuity. J. Paul Hunter, in his essay "The Reluctant Pilgrim" (1966), posits that Crusoe represents "the economic man, the new capitalist hero" (Hunter, 141), highlighting the novel's engagement with the emerging capitalist system of the early 18th century. Hunter argues that Crusoe's journey from a wayward youth to a self-made man reflects the changing economic and social landscape of the time, in which individual initiative and entrepreneurship were increasingly valued.

Moreover, "Robinson Crusoe" has been interpreted as a colonial narrative, with Crusoe as the European colonizer who imposes his will on the native Friday. Postcolonial critic Edward Said, in his book "Culture and Imperialism" (1993), contends that the novel "is not accidentally about a European who creates a fiefdom for himself on a distant, non-European island" (Said, 70). Said argues that Defoe's work reflects and reinforces colonial attitudes and power structures, as Crusoe asserts his dominance over the island and its inhabitants.

In contrast, Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels," published in 1726, is a satirical work that critiques contemporary society and human nature through the lens of fantastical voyages. The novel belongs to the genre of Menippean satire, which, as literary theorist Northrop Frye explains in "Anatomy of Criticism" (1957), "deals less with people as such than with mental attitudes" (Frye, 309). Swift uses Gulliver's encounters with various imaginary societies to expose and ridicule the flaws and follies of 18th-century European society.

Throughout the four voyages in "Gulliver's Travels," Swift satirizes a wide range of contemporary issues, including political corruption, religious conflicts, and the pursuit of knowledge without wisdom. In the first voyage to Lilliput, Swift mocks the pettiness and absurdity of political rivalries through the conflict between the Lilliputians and their neighbors, the Blefuscudians. The second voyage to Brobdingnag serves as a commentary on the relative nature of human perception and the limitations of human knowledge. The third voyage to Laputa and its neighboring lands satirizes the excesses and impracticalities of speculative science and philosophy. Finally, the fourth voyage to the land of the Houyhnhnms presents a scathing critique of human pride and irrationality, as Gulliver comes to regard the intelligent and virtuous horses as superior to his own species.

As Claude Rawson notes in "God, Gulliver, and Genocide" (2001), Swift's satire "is a comprehensive indictment of the human condition" (Rawson, 11), exposing the flaws and follies of mankind. Rawson argues that Swift's critique extends beyond specific societal issues to encompass a broader philosophical and moral questioning of human nature itself. This comprehensive satirical approach sets "Gulliver's Travels" apart from the more focused social commentary found in many other works of the period.

Like "Robinson Crusoe," "Gulliver's Travels" also engages with the theme of colonialism, particularly in the fourth voyage to the land of the Houyhnhnms. As critic Frank Palmeri suggests in "Satire, History, Novel" (2003), "Swift uses the device of the foreign traveler to defamiliarize and satirize European customs and institutions" (Palmeri, 163). By presenting European society through the eyes of Gulliver and the Houyhnhnms, Swift highlights the irrationality and savagery of colonial practices and attitudes.

In conclusion, "Robinson Crusoe" and "Gulliver's Travels" are both products of the Enlightenment era, but they represent different literary genres and engage with their contemporary context in distinct ways. Defoe's novel reflects the rise of individualism and capitalism, as well as the colonial mindset of the early 18th century. Swift's satire, on the other hand, offers a comprehensive critique of human nature and society, exposing the flaws and follies of the age through fantastical voyages and imaginary societies. Both works have had a profound impact on English literature and continue to be studied for their insights into 18th-century culture, thought, and the enduring question of what it means to be human in a complex and often contradictory world.