Exploring the Themes of Imprisonment and Rebuke of Royalism in Laguin's and Swift's Works

19min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

The chapter examines the recurring theme of prisons in Laguin's and Swift's works, highlighting the representation of imprisonment by oneself, institutions, and one's relation to others. It discusses Swift's critique of utopian visions and the portrayal of oppressive kings and cancel culture in Gulliver's Travels. The speakers also explore Laguin's and Swift's perspectives on gender roles, the treatment of women as companions, and their advocacy for better treatment of the Irish.

In this special episode, Tyler sat down with Jerusalem Demsas, staff writer at The Atlantic, to discuss three books: The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin, Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, and Of Boys and Men by Richard V. Reeves.

Spanning centuries and genres and yet provoking similar questions, these books prompted Tyler and Jerusalem to wrestle with enduring questions about human nature, gender dynamics, the purpose of travel, and moral progress, including debating whether Le Guin prefers the anarchist utopia she depicts, dissecting Swift's stance on science and slavery, questioning if travel makes us happier or helps us understand ourselves, comparing Gulliver and Shevek's alienation and restlessness, considering Swift’s views on the difficulty of moral progress, reflecting on how feminism links to moral progress and gender equality, contemplating whether imaginative fiction or policy analysis is more likely to spur social change, and more.

Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.

Recorded May 22nd, 2023.

Other ways to connect

Follow us on X and Instagram
Follow Tyler on X
Follow Jerusalem on X
Join our Discord
Email us: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu
Learn more about Conversations with Tyler and other Mercatus Center podcasts here.