Gulliver's Travels: An Altered Perspective Jonathan Swift's latest satirical masterpiece, Gulliver's Travels, examines human nature through a misanthropic eye. More directly, it examines the bastardization suffered by English society. The brilliant tale describes the journey of Lemuel Gulliver, an Englishman, and his distorted encounters. Examining the major political and social conflicts of eighteenth-century England, Swift's critical work provokes much controversy. Gulliver's travels take him to places of opposite environments and offer him different opportunities. Through Gulliever's Journey, Swift ridicules Gulliver as an individual character and also as a product of English social practices. First, Gulliver travels to Lilliput, a land of miniature humans. The culture and society of the Lilliputians is very similar to that of Gulliver's home, England. However, in this underpowered environment, Gulliver's perspective is altered. The actions of the Lilliputians seem banal and insignificant. Because Gulliver is so incredibly important to this race, the emperor uses him as a monument. Gulliver explains: "He wished me to stand like a colossus with my legs as far apart as possible. Then he commanded...the troops in close order and marched them under me." (p. 377) This great celebration of thousands of horses, an army of toy troops, and gaudy reverberations of color and sound under Gulliver is a frivolous interpretation of the Lilliputians asserting their pride and supporting their national ego. Gulliver, in size, is superior to the Lilliputians; however, they still have complete control over him. Gulliver's society, played by Swift, becomes underdeveloped, stunted and f...... half of paper... a king, England's handling of laws, government, religion and conquests were absolutely scary. While Gulliver boasts of his country's successes, the king is horrified. Swift implies that humans have the potential to overcome corruption and at the same time decry English practices of such evil intent. Gulliver's Travels is one of the most successful satires against the corrupt nature of man. This overt political and social ridicule by Jonathan Swift uses Gulliver's Journey to portray England's flaws. Gulliver travels to places where his perspective is altered, thus allowing flaws to be revealed on many different levels. By alluding to the ill-conceived political and social life of 18th-century England, Swift effectively expresses his disapproval. Gulliver, as an Englishman, cannot help but fall into idiocy, regardless of his size.