Gulliver’s Opinion on the Political Projectors
Jonathan Swift wrote the classic novel, Gulliver’s Travels, as a satirical commentary on the politics of his time. One of the key themes in the novel is Swift’s critique of the “political projectors” - charlatans who proposed grandiose schemes for the betterment of society, but whose proposals were often impractical or harmful.
Throughout the novel, the protagonist, Lemuel Gulliver encounters various “political projectors” in the different lands he visits. These include the Laputan intellectuals who are so absorbed in abstract theories that they cannot execute any practical projects, the professors in the Academy of Lagado who propose absurd ideas like extracting sunbeams from cucumbers, and the scientists in the island of Glubbdubdrib who can summon the ghosts of historical figures but cannot provide any guidance for the living.
Gulliver’s opinion of these projectors is generally unfavorable. He sees them as overconfident, ignorant and detached from reality. He sees their schemes as a waste of time, resources and human potential. At times, he adopts a sarcastic tone to mock their absurdities.
For instance, when he visits the Grand Academy of Lagado, he observes the following:
“I have often been amused to consider the use of architecture in those several great empires whereof we read in history; and, upon calling to mind our own nation, I have been often inclined to exalt the perfection of the modern over all the ancient by the several improvements we have made in all the branches of that noble art, in our own country and in others. This thought came into my head as I was dining with the king, and the queen, and their royal highnesses the princesses, when an express arrived from Blefuscu, related to me the situation of affairs in that empire. Trie emperor of Blefuscu, it seems, has lately published an edict, commanding all his subjects to break the smaller end of their eggs. The people of Blefuscu have accordingly, during two years past, been employed in breaking eggs, by which he has greatly diminished the number of hands employed in agriculture, as well as the mouths to be fed; for the same reason, neither the beef nor pork being allowed to multiply, herds of cows and flocks of sheep are very rare in this country, where the climate is so warm and agreeable all the year round”.
Here, Gulliver pokes fun at the projectors who advocate ridiculous ideas without any consideration for their practicality or consequences. He uses the example of the edict to break the smaller end of eggs to illustrate the folly of such schemes.
In conclusion, Gulliver’s opinion of the “political projectors” in Swift’s novel is critical and satirical. He sees them as charlatans who propose grandiose ideas without any basis in reality. Swift’s portrayal of these projectors still resonates with us today, as we encounter similar characters in our own political and intellectual arenas. |
