Abstract

   This study probed into the theory "The Great Chain of Being" in Gulliver's Travels. As a great novel, Gulliver's Travels is widely read and researched. Scholars have contributed a lot to the research of this book, which is considered as a children's book, a science fiction and a great satire. These valuable results help readers with a better understanding of the book. The theory "The Great Chain of Being" gives another fresh viewpoint to study Gulliver's Travels. This thesis mainly focuses on three aspects of the theory reflected in the novel--the chain arranged by size, by knowledge and by morality. In the second part of the thesis, the theory goes through the whole "travel". In Lilliput and Brobdingnag, the chain goes by the order of size; in Laputa, the chain goes by knowledge; and in Houyhnhnm, the Chain is arranged by morality.

Key Words : Gulliver’s Travels; Great Chain of Being；size；knowledge;morality

摘  要

本研究主要探究“万物链”这一思想在《格列佛游记》中的体现。作为一本世界名著，《格列佛游记》已拥有广大的读者群和各种深度的研究。学者们对于此书的研究侧重点，有儿童名著，科幻小说和讽刺小说。这些研究成果都更好地帮助读者阅读和理解此书。本文在一个全新的视角下，用“万物链”思想解读此书，主要侧重于三方面的体现：体积链，知识链，道德链。在本文的第二部分，这个理论在分析中“游历”了整本小说。在小人国和大人国，这条“万物链”随着生物体积的变化而变化；在飞岛国，这条链子的排序又因知识和理性的不同而不同；在慧骃国，不同的道德境界决定了“万物链”中的不同地位。

关键词：《格列佛游记》；万物链；体积；知识；道德

1.    Introductions
1.1 Introduction to Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was born on 30 November, 1667, and died on 19 October 1745, both in Dublin, aged 78. His life was doomed twisted at the time when he was in his mother’s belly. His father, a lawyer and English civil servant, died seven months before he was born. Swift’s mother, Abigail Erick, was left without any income to support herself and her family. As a result, Swift was brought up by his uncle.
He received his education in Ireland, with B.A. degree in 1686 and M.A. in 1692. He worked as a secretary of Sir William Temple at Moor Park, but he did not like the position as a servant in the household. In 1695, Swift was ordained in the Church of Ireland, Dublin.