Exploring the Satirical Methods Present in Part Two of Gulliver’s Travels, When Contrast with the Satirical Methods in Part One

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Exploring the Satirical Methods Present in Part Two of Gulliver’s Travels, When Contrast With the Satirical Methods in Part One In ‘Gulliver’s Travels’, Swift adopts several different methods of satire that present themselves throughout the book. In Part One, Gulliver is a giant compared the tiny city of Lilliput and satire is expressed somewhat unsurprisingly differently from in Part 2 where he has become dwarfed in size by the tremendous Brobdingnagians. Firstly, in Part One, Gulliver encounters the two rival groups: the Big-Endians and the Little-Endians. The two factions are exactly the same in all aspects other than the small detail of which end they eat their eggs from (the ‘little’ or ‘big’ end). Swift is satirically describing religion, more specifically, the differences between Protestants and Catholics. The soon-to-be Big-Endians, being told that they could no longer break and eat their eggs from the big end ‘so highly resented this Law, that our Histories tell us there have been six Rebellions raised on that account; wherein one Emperor lost his life, and another his crown.’ They then migrated from Lilliput to Blefuscu to be permanent enemies with the Little-Endians. Swift satires the ideas of religions being so similar to one another and yet arguing with each other over such insignificant details that they see each other as different. In Part 2 however, there is a slightly different approach Swift’s satire of England. Instead of just ridiculing minor points of religion, the King of Brobdingnag is astonished at Gulliver’s long and proud account of how his country is run and of it’s history, ‘protesting it was only a heap of Conspiracies, Rebellions, Murdersm Massacres, Revolutions, Banishments, the very worst Effects that Avarice, Faction, Hypocrisy, Perfidiousness, Cruelty, Rage, Madness, Hatred, Envy, Lust, Malice, or Ambition could produce.’

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