DREAMS IN SCRIBBLES

Review that won her 3rd place in Oxford Big read Competiton, 2023

Today I wish to talk about a classic – ‘Gulliver’s Travels in Lilliput and Brobdingnag’. This book was first published in the year 1726.It is one of the best-selling novels in the history of English literature. It is written in four parts- all epic and exhilarating. This book is written by an Anglo-Irish author Jonathan Swift. It is considered author Jonathan Swift’s masterpiece.

This story is about Lemuel Gulliver’s grand adventures to Lilliput and Brobdingnag. Gulliver, a surgeon, goes on a sea voyage and finds himself in Lilliput and eventually in Brobdingnag. In both lands, he encounters strange people. Some tiny, some of humongous size. Some ill-treat him and some welcome him warmly. Though he longs to return home to his wife and children, he can’t. He is being held captive. What will he do? Will he be able to get free?

 I like the way this book depicts adventure and bravery in an entertaining way. It teaches us about courage and kindness. It has many humourous parts and some frightening ones too which kept me engaged throughout. This is book is very captivating and I could not put it down. I loved the part when a little farmer girl showed Gulliver kindness and even knitted new clothes for him. However, I disliked the part where a little dwarf tormented Gulliver by playing nasty and cruel tricks on him.

Gulliver’s Travels has many hidden lessons in a funny and heart-warming way. This classic book is a must read!

ONE ASPECT OF THE STORY I WOULD CHANGE

If I had to change one thing about the story, I would change the ending. The Queen loved Gulliver still she kept him confined to a box like a ‘pet’. I believe we should treat our pets with kindness and never keep them caged.

My changed ending:

The Queen has gone on a voyage with the King. Gulliver has a grand room in the Queen’s castle. He is getting bored. There is no one to talk to. He misses his family but how can he leave the Queen? She loves him so much. He can’t even call his family in this giants’ land. Suddenly, he gets an idea. ‘Why don’t I write a book about my adventures? I can send it to my children to read.’ he thought. He wrote in his little notepad for many many days. When the Queen returned, he showed the book to her. She was clearly impressed but she felt somber reading the last paragraph. Gulliver had written how he felt about being away from his family and how much he longed to be with them in England. The Queen realized how selfish she had been. She ordered her men to bring her best ship to send him back to England. Everyone bid a tearful goodbye to Gulliver. The Queen gifted him a shiny gold locket with a ‘G’ written on it. When he opened the locket, he found a photo of Gulliver and Glumdalclitch. He thanked the Queen and set off. Soon, he reached his wife and children. In England, he published his book and became a bestselling author. They lived happily ever after.

• Anaya Sheth