Skip to main content

Which people in Gulliver's Travels most often represent English political figures?

It is the Lilliputians who most often represent English political figures in Gulliver's Travels. 


With the Lilliputian rope dancers who vie for political office, winning a position based on whoever can jump the highest without falling rather than whoever is most qualified for office, Swift satirizes the English government and the manner in which government positions are filled. Further, the feud between the Tramecksans and the Slamecksans—those who wear high heels and low heels...

It is the Lilliputians who most often represent English political figures in Gulliver's Travels. 


With the Lilliputian rope dancers who vie for political office, winning a position based on whoever can jump the highest without falling rather than whoever is most qualified for office, Swift satirizes the English government and the manner in which government positions are filled. Further, the feud between the Tramecksans and the Slamecksans—those who wear high heels and low heels on their shoes—represent the animosity between the High Church Tory party and the Low Church Whig party, respectively. When Gulliver describes "his Imperial Highness, the Heir to the Crown" in Lilliput as having "some Tendency towards the High-heels," this royal represents the Prince of Wales, who many Tories—including Swift—hoped would, when he became King George II, show favor to their party.


Moreover, the drama between the Big-Endians and Little-Endians–who war over which side of the egg should be cracked—represents the terrible struggle that existed between Catholics and Protestants since Henry VIII created the Church of England, a struggle which was not only religious but political as well since the monarch was also considered to be the head of the Church of England. Swift seems to downplay the disagreement as something not worth fighting over, a matter of choice that has absolutely no effect on how others perform the same activity.

Labels

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more