Introduction
English society in the 18th century had numerous flaws that critically affected people’s lives. The religious and economic issues, the court and its life, and the figure of the king introduced numerous themes for debate. The accumulation of social problems led to a critical perspective on the country’s most important events. Jonathan Swift became one of the authors who created satirical descriptions of the most notable flaws of society at the time. Swift’s satire is justified by the events and attitudes peculiar to that epoch and how individuals perceived them.
Court and Nobility
In Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift touches upon numerous aspects of the English way of living. However, instead of speaking about them directly, he creates numerous allegorical situations, which help him laugh at a particular issue. For instance, Swift writes about diversion, which is practiced only “by those persons who are candidates for great employments, and high favor, at court” (2505). The line alludes to the English court and the rules that governed it.
People favored and accepted by the king had an advantageous position. Swift also admits that people are trained in this art from their youth; they are not necessarily “noble birth, or liberal education” (2505). It represents the system that existed at that time, as vacant positions were occupied by people who were not worthy but managed to attract attention and become pleasant to a King or his court.
Furthermore, Swift continues speaking about the flaws of the nobility. Gulliver admits that fatal accidents often accompany diversions; however, this does not prevent people from trying (Swift 2505). The same situation was typical of 18th-century society. The members of the court machinated to improve their positions, often resulting in punishments and deaths. However, the attempts continued, as the King’s attention and the place at his side guaranteed access to power and resources, which were especially important in poor English society at that time.
Political Life
Swift’s satire of the life and traditions of that period is also justified by his ironic description of the opposition between the two parties. Speaking about “Tramecksan” and “Slamecksan,” the author sarcastically describes the traditional political opposition to the English state (Swift 2511). The Tories and Whigs, the parties within the Parliament, were used to create these groups in the story. The dispute between them was an essential element of society at the time.
However, despite vigorous debate, the parties were similar, as Swift admitted in his novel. Sarcastically, he writes about the height of the heels on shoes, which serves as the only point of difference between them (Swift 2511). Being an authentic witness of the state’s political debates, he fairly criticizes the Tories and Whigs for the insignificance of their opposition and the minimal differences between them.
The Idea of the Constant Threat
Swift also admits the idea of the constant threat as one of the vital nation-building concepts peculiar to England at that period. In his book, he says, “we labor under two mighty evils; a violent faction at home, and the danger of an invasion by a most potent enemy from abroad” (Swift 2511). This passage refers to domestic instability in the country and the threat from France, which was used as the primary ideological tool to unite society and demonstrate the need for specific policies accepted at the time. Same as in “Gulliver’s Travels,” people’s liberty is tied to these two factors. It means the threats can explain any decision that impacts an individual’s well-being, rights, and life.
Religion
Religion was another critical aspect of every individual’s life in the 18th century. The English Reformation altered the country’s religious landscape and made the king the head of the church. This act resulted in the growing tensions between Catholics and Protestants within the country and opposed England to the rest of Europe, which the Pope headed. These radical changes in critical aspects of social life could not go unnoticed and were acknowledged by numerous authors of that period. In his satirical description of England, Swift also devotes much time to religious issues and emphasizes the ridiculous nature of this dispute.
In the book, Swift satirizes the opposition between the Catholics and Protestants by using the derisive conflict over breaking eggs as prescribed by the ancient practice. The current Majesty’s grandfather was injured during the standard practice, and since then, a new approach involving breaking the smaller end of the eggs has been established (Swift 2512). Swift ironically comments on Henry VIII’s decision to become head of the Church after the Pope refused to accept his divorce and his plans to remarry. This event cultivated a split in society and religious wars between supporters and opponents of the new idea. Swift also cogitates about it by saying, “the people 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” (2512). It helps to understand that society remains divided on religion, a theme also topical in 18th-century English society.
Swift continues speaking about the topic by outlining the essence of the opposition. He emphasizes that the holy text and its understanding are the central source of the opposition. It assumes, “all true believers shall break their eggs at the convenient end” (Swift 2512). However, determining which end is the most convenient leads to the dispute. In this way, Swift fairly criticizes how different understandings of the Bible led to the clash, rebellions, opposition, and numerous deaths. Thus, it was one of the essential themes in England at that time.
Women and Strangers
Finally, Swift speaks about women and foreigners, and their attitudes toward them. He says that females of the island “contemn their husbands” and are “fond of strangers,” while there are many of them from the “continent below” who attend courts and other institutions (Swift 2578). It is another satire on the country’s social life, morals, and relations. Although French people were considered enemies, many were appreciated by society and held influential positions in the state. This paradox was one of the author’s essential features.
Conclusion
In such a way, reading Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels” and possessing an enhanced understanding of the social life in England in the 18th century, it is possible to conclude that the author’s satire is justified. Being a representative of the nation, Swift correctly understands its peculiarities and main flaws. For this reason, Gulliver experiences numerous situations related to the main disputes and events in England at that time. His descriptions of the court’s life and of political and religious issues help provide a deeper understanding of the paradoxes and problems of that time.
Work Cited
Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver’s Travels. Edited by Claude Rawson and Ian Higgins, Oxford University Press, 2008.