Mrs. Gulliver

The thing I constantly wonder about while reading Gulliver’s travels, is why his wife has not left him yet. He was gone for three years, in Lilliput. When he finally returned he left again two months later, despite her begging. Mrs. Gulliver was left alone with children for another four years while her husband was off with the giants of Brobdingnag. At his return, they most have considered him insane, for all his ramblings. She must have begged him to stay, he has disappeared without warning twice now, but he leaves any way two months later. He disappears to Laputa and the areas around it for four years. Mrs. Gulliver may be used to this by now, but it is getting ridiculous. He finally returns only to leave her again, pregnant this time, this time for five years. I can only imagine that he was presumed dead each time he disappeared. That must have done a lot of damage to her, but not as much as his continuing willingness to leave her all alone. Not only is it hard when Gulliver is not there, but I imagine it is difficult as well when Gulliver is home. He must not be that great of a husband to go years without thinking about his family back home. That must not be fun to live with. Next his low opinion of humanity, specifically women, must have been especially annoying and difficult to live with. Maybe she was secretly happy whenever Gulliver disappeared, I know I would be.