Ohhh so you crack your egg from the bottom...

    


     In Gulliver's Travels by Jonathon Swift, he uses many satirical methods to criticize topics of 18th  century English society and some of these topics even apply to today's society. However, I believe that Swift’s greatest satirical effect comes when he mocks the dumb reasons for which conflict occurs and how war in general is stupid. 

    When Gulliver, the protagonist, first travels to Laputa, he learns about the two opposing parties—Lilliputians and Blefuscu—and their different belief in how eggs should be cracked (right side up or right side down). It goes to the extent of the two parties fighting over this egg-streme crisis. Sorry, I had to. Anyways, Swift's objective when writing about the Lilliputians vs the Blefuscu is to show the reader that people’s reasons for conflict are often stupid and how war can be bad. 

    Another example of Swift satirizing these skirmishes is when Gulliver travels to Houyhnhnm and explains to his master, a Houyhnhnm, the motives that make one country go to war with another. Swift writes, “Difference in Opinions hath cost many Millions of Lives: Whether Flesh be Bread, or Bread be Flesh: Whether the Juice of a certain Berry be Blood or Wine: Whether Whistling be a Vice or a Virtue.” His portrayal of these causes of wars is another satirical effect he uses to convey the message of wars and conflict in general being created for stupid reasons. 

    Not only does Swift’s writing satirize 18th century English society, but it relates to today’s society as well. Unfortunately, conflict remains rampant in 21st century society whether it is through war, like the Ukraine War, or a simple fight over the last cookie in the cookie jar. These dilemnas in today’s society show that people have not changed and we still fight each other for stupid reasons. Now, it is understandable that people may disagree on certain things but that shouldn’t mean they wage an all out war over it. I believe Swift thinks people should live more peacefully and not be down each other's throats all the time, in so many words.


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