What does swift satire in gullivers travels

We see that Swift has very deeply and bitterly criticised and satirised every field of life of the Englishmen which had been affected by the vices of that age. As we know that in his first part or first voyage, Swift sets his satire against the political system of his country but in Part II, his satire becomes general. He satirises the ugliness and the coarseness of human beings through the creatures of Brobdingnag.

As the inhabitants of Brobdingnag are called Laputas, they present a contrast to the pygmies of Lilliput in size. Here Swift is looking at mankind through the wrong end of the telescope. While in the account of Brobdingnag, he looks at mankind through a magnifying glass. There were not only the inhabitants Laputas were large and huge in size but also other animals like cat, dog, rat, eagles, etc. There were the women in huge and giant size that they treated Gulliver as a puppet or pigmy in their hands.

Their bodies always displayed ugly sight and an everlasting smell always emitted from their bodies. Their breasts were too much big and large in size that they could even feed Gulliver from the nipples of their breast as a child.

Through the account of the smell, ugliness and coarseness of the physical appearances and bodies, Swift satirises the ugliness and coarseness of English women of his time who used to beautify themselves outwardly with different powders, creams and chemicals.

Swift also satirises the scholars and philosophers of his age through the account in which Gulliver was estimated or judged as a creature of not being produced according to the regular laws of nature and hence he was a freak product.

Swift also presents a bitter satire against the tradesmen, businessmen, politicians and religious leaders through an account in which Gulliver was asked by the king of. Brobdingnag about the systems of politics, religion, trade and finance of his country. Turning to one of his ministers, the king observed how contemptible human grandeur was which could be mimicked by such diminutive insects as Gulliver. In other words, the king rebukes and condemns the human race of which Gulliver is a representative.

Here Swift compares the human race to people of Brobdingnag, consisting of insects. In this part of the book, the human pride and pretension are bitterly rebuked and ridiculed by Swift. According to the king, the human beings who have such lofty ideas about themselves are no better than insects.

The beggars of English society are very aptly and bitterly criticized or rebuked by Swift in the account in which Gulliver told the readers that he had happened to see many beggars in the metropolis. The sight of these baggers was really horrible and disgusting. Among the baggers was a woman with cancer in her breast. There was also a man with a huge tumour in his neck another bagger had wooden legs, each about twenty feet high.

In the first voyage, Swift mounts a dark and violent assault on the political institutions and the politicians of his time. The juxtaposition of physical delicacy and mental brutality of Lilliputians is all the base of satire and irony in the story of Lilliput. Swift portrays them as being only six inches tall because it is an excellent way to trivialize the significance of their wars, the political jousting, their endless infighting and their sycophancy over honours and rewards.

The first voyage in particular is a satirical romp in which Swift takes some memorable shots at English political parties and their antics. In the second voyage of Gulliver, there is the satire of more general kind. At times it seems a satire on human physiognomy and at times through the king of Brobdingnag, Swift ridicules the running of British parliament: "My little friend Grildrig; you have made a most admirable panegyric upon your country. You have clearly proved that ignorance, idleness, and vice are the proper ingredients for qualifying a legislator.

That laws are best explained, interpreted, and applied by those whose interest and abilities lie in perverting, confounding, and eluding them. Tutor and Freelance Writer. Science Teacher and Lover of Essays. Article last reviewed: St. Skip to content. Find out More. What is Satire? Newest Oldest Most Voted. Inline Feedbacks.

Muhammad Shahab wali. R E Reni Ernst Author. Add to cart. Contents I. Introduction II. Gulliver describes European civilization to Brobdingnag's King, including England's political and legal institutions and how they work, as well as some of the personal habits of the ruling class and afterwards describes his intention to the reader: I would hide the Frailties and Deformities of my Political Mother, and place her Virtues and Beauties in the most advantageous Light.

Sign in to write a comment. Read the ebook. History and its relevance for underst The message behind the fourth book: E