Gulliver's Travels Jonathan Swift wrote Gulliver's Travels in 1762 with the intention of entertaining many people. Entertainment through satire is what Swift had in mind. To fully understand Gulliver's Travels, you must first think about the following: plot, character, setting, theme, point of view, conflict, climax, resolution, symbolism, and figurative language. These ideas will help the reader understand some of the ideas represented in the novel and why Swift wrote them. The setting plays an important role in all novels, but in Gulliver's Travels one must take into account that the four different parts of the book have different settings. The first setting is more or less on an island called Lilliput, on November 5, 1699. Gulliver ended up on this island due to a ship wreck. The setting of the second part of the novel appears to be upon his arrival on another island which Gulliver wishes to inspect for water. It was June 16, 1703. The third part of the book has many different little scenes. The first of which takes place on Laputa, an island of deformed creatures. The fourth and final part of the book is set in the country of Houyhnhnms, in 1711. The main character, Gulliver, is a well-educated sailor. He was advised to become a surgeon. Traveling around the world, exploring new places, Gulliver encounters many new cultures and civilizations. Gulliver wears clothing that is not unusual in the 1700s. He has long hair, which sometimes prevents him from turning his head. Gulliver is a round character. This can be seen when referring to past experiences during an adventure. This means that he can compare the two situations and thus learn from it. There are many minor characters. It is easier to call them by the names of their people. They are: the little Lilliputians, the Brobdingnag giants, the creatures of Lugnagg and Balnibarbi, with the islands of Laputa and Blubdrubdrib. And finally, the Yahoos and the Houyhnhnms. Gulliver's stories are told by himself in the first person. Some very important symbols are used throughout the novel to represent some very important ideas. One such symbol would be when Gulliver relieves himself in the royal castle of the Lilliputians to put out a fire. It seems that no matter how silly something may seem, it might just be an answer to an important problem.