Gullivers Travels Where Size Doesnt Matter - 1675 Words

In Jonathan Swift’s Gullivers Travels, satire is ever-present: in plot, character and setting. Dystopia and utopia set the story, with grotesque added to sharpen character facets. The title character narrates the novel, and all actions are told through his point of view. His voyages expose him to extraordinary and absurd circumstances, used as fodder for mockery, and all throughout Gulliver’s travails society is ridiculed, and a bitter light is cast on humanity. Character growth is not spared: in the beginning Gulliver is much one-dimensional, and as he changes, Swift uses his growth as another ancillary conduit to let loose more satirical prowess. In the world as painted by Swift, Dystopia and Utopia are not what they seem: all†¦show more content†¦When in the mood to punish a particular region of the country, the king simply floats his island above it, thus depriving the lands below of rain and sunlight. At the same time the king is oblivious to the real conc erns of his subjects below, as he has never actually been at their physical level. Grotesque also plays a sardonic role in Brobdingnag, where everything takes on higher stages of shortcomings and the truth about objects is determined by the observers point of view - in other words, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The brightest smile of the most beautiful woman, for example, is imperfect. These imperfections turn out to be more discernible the longer they are looked at. Gulliver explains: Their Skins appeared so coarse and uneven, so variously colored when I saw them near (108). If something seems perfect, that is actually not the case: it simply has not been exposed long enough for the untrained eye to notice all the imperfections. In the case of showing characters through a lens of tyranny and greed, the character element of the novel has the king of Lilliput as a one-dimensional character by portraying him as a covetous and powerful king, boasting with personal pride. By making the kings government use performances like jumping high on a tight rope to fill vacant positions in the government, Swift shows that all of the power at the king’s disposal causes him to care more about personal entertainment than runningShow MoreRelatedGullivers Search for an Identity Essay1083 Words   |  5 Pages Gullivers Travels is a novel that touches on many subjects. One of the lesser points discussed is how Gulliver seems to be searching for acceptance and for his identity on his many journeys. Upon entering any of these strange foreign lands, Gulliver makes it a point to learn the language. This is because knowing the language of a foreign land is a crucial part to your acceptance in that country. Anothe r thing that Gulliver adapts in each of these foreign places is their manner of dress. GreatRead More Genetic Engineering in Agriculture Essay2099 Words   |  9 PagesGenetic Engineering in Agriculture Whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before would deserve better of Mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together. -The King of Brobdingnag, Gullivers Travels by Jonathan Swift, 17271 Introduction Genetically engineered foods are the rage of the day for farmers across the world. Farmers are able to grow larger, tastier, moreRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesformulations. Even when they do, it is not unusual for critics and readers to disagree among themselves about the precise nature of the conflict – whether, for example, the protagonist is more in conflict with society than he is with himself – or about where the major crisis, or turning point of the narrative actually occurs. Nor is there any special reason that the crisis should occur at or near the middle of the plot. It can, in fact, occur at any moment. In James Joyce’s â€Å"Araby† and in a number of the