Scientific Writing
The use of imagery in this narrative often appears in the form of parody. One of the most obvious examples is when the narrator commences scientific jargon in his descriptions of the advanced state of building engines by lunar inhabitants. Despite being essentially gibberish, the descriptions could come right out of a scientific manual of the day:
“The number of Feathers are just 513, they are all of a length and breadth exactly, which is absolutely necessary to the floating Figure, or else one side or any one part being wider or longer than the rest, it would interrupt the motion of the whole Engine; only there is one extraordinary Feather which, as there is an odd one in the number, is placed in the Center, and is the Handle, or rather Rudder to the whole Machine”
The Narrator Doth Protest
The story is clearly allegorical. And as allegory, this means that certain fictions in the story are intended to be taken as representative of actual factual corresponding realities going on in British society at the time. Despite this, the narrator doth protest just a bit too much that such a connection should be made only with the greatest of care:
“And since the allegorick Relation may bear great Similitude with our European Affairs on this side the Moon: I shall...call them by the same Names our unhappy Parties are call'd by in England…at the same time desiring my Reader…to understand me of any Person, Party, People, Nation, or Place on this side the Moon, any Expression, Circumstance, Similitude, or Appearance to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.”
Parliament
Parliament is, of course, England’s legislative body consisting of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Despite the names, they are more or less equitable to America’s Senate and House of Representatives. A chariot that is described in detail is a use of imagery as symbol and metaphor: the two winded bodies represent Parliament:
"I saw none more pleasant or profitable, than a certain Engine formed in the shape of a Chariot, on the Backs of two vast Bodies with extended Wings, which spread about 50 Yards in Breadth...the Person being placed in this airy Chariot, drinks a certain dozing Draught, that throws him into a gentle Slumber, and Dreaming all the way, never wakes till he comes to his Journey's end.”
Very Little Moon in This Moon Trip
The idea here is that the author is relating his adventures upon meeting lunar citizens. There is very little moon imagery in this trip to the moon. Because, of course, it is an allegory. Even at that, however, the notable thing about the imagery is just how little lunar imagery surrounds these moon people:
“Indeed when I saw the Proceedings against this poor Man run to a heighth so extravagant and monstrous, when I found Malice, Forgery, Subornation, Perjury, and a thousand unjustifiable Things which their own Sense, if they had any, might ha' been their Protection against, and which any Child in the Moon might ha' told them must one time or other come upon the Stage and expose them; I began to think these People were all in the Crolian Plot too.”
