Gulliver's Travels can be understood on multiple levels, but its literary nature is best described as an allegorical work.

• An allegory is a story in which the characters, settings, and events symbolize abstract ideas or real-world issues.

• In Gulliver's Travels, the different lands Gulliver visits are not merely fantastical; they are allegorical representations that satirize English society, politics, science, and human nature.

• The book also functions as a political work, especially as a satire of the Whig government of Swift’s time.

• However, the allegorical aspect is the broader literary framework through which Swift delivers his political and social commentary.

Therefore, while it is correct to say the book is political, describing it as political allegory is more fundamental and comprehensive, capturing both its literary and satirical purposes.