Lilliputians of our Day and Age?

Lilliput, the first part, is concerned with Gulliver's supposed adventure in a land where everyone is small, and their concerns very small and petty, but are relatively morally upright, God-fearing, and honest, like the stereotype of English country people of Swift's time.

The society and the political system in Lilliput represents that of the British Empire of the 18th century. As in England, there are two parties: The "High-Heels", representing the Tories, and the "Low-Heels", i.e. the Whigs.

Lilliput has been at war with its neighbouring island Blefuscu for two generations. As Blefuscu represents France, Swift shows the current international relations between the two countries at that time. The reason for the war between Lilliput and Blefusu is a difference of opinion about whether the right way to crack an egg is from the big or the small end. By giving this ridiculous reason as the cause of war, Swift satirizes the somewhat stupid reasons that caused wars.

The war between Lilliput and Blefuscu also stands for the war between the Anglican church and the Catholics in England, that started with Henry VIII and led to executions end exiles. The egg represents Christianity or christian belief (as a symbol of Easter, the highest catholic holiday). The "Big-Endians" are a depiction of the Catholics, the "Small-Endians" represent the Anglicans. By ridiculing the cause of the dipute Swift shows that there can be several different ways of interpretations to the Bible.

Although Gulliver is a giant to the small Lilliputians, he does not try to free himself or destroy the people. After being treated well, he feels obligated to protect the country, settling the war with Blefuscu by capturing their fleet. Some think that Swift was idealizing the role of Britain and its sea power in the world as it was then, in the 18th century, not very long after the beginnings of the British Empire.

From:
Definition of Guliver's Travels

Comment: Do things never change? Rethinking where our leaders stand, you might wonder why they appear hamstrung by petty concerns, doing the same things that Johnathan Swith alerts us. The only thing that is missing is a comparable notion of satire for our time, possibly absent because the obvious is overwhelming.

So let's hear about it, give us a clue.


[edit on 3-10-2004 by SkipShipman]