Soupçon III In Memoriam Series III.i
Let us yet again, despite the unavoidable hiatus, resume the Soupçon series in its original form, that is, as a forum to discuss, analyse, understand literary issues.
Let us henceforth begin the "In Memoriam" series. We would thus meet the literary greats, be it authors, texts, mo(ve)ments, whose respective anniversaries announce a welcome chance to get to know them better. Each week, Monday through Friday, the discussion would continue. It has no weekly barrier though. That is to say, the analysis could spill over in to weeks, nay, even in months, if necessary.
Let us begin the series with "Gulliver's Travels", a text that was published in 1726, exactly three hundred years ago, and still has us all in thrall.
Apparently, this narration in the travelogue mode is now considered a text meant for children! Actually, however, it is one of the satirical most, severest critique of the society of Swift's times. Most interestingly, Swift's passionate critique of societal follies remains relevant even today.
Hence our "In Memoriam" series begins with 'Gulliver's Travels', originally titled 'Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships.'
Let us tomorrow analyse the genre of Swift's not-so-very 'modest proposal' written"for their amendment, and not for their approbation' to quote Gulliver's prefatory epistle!
Pratima Agnihotri
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