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Jonathan Swift Abuse Of Power Analysis

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The abuse of power is represented in this novel other than the fact that Gulliver’s Travels is a satire and fantasy novel. Jonathan Swift depicts the abuse of power in this novel through the events from his voyage to Lilliput land, and Brobdingnag. Here the Swift tries to show the difference in two communities where the power is being misused and where the power is utilized in well. In Lilliput land, though Lilliputians are small in size they tend to take advantage of Gulliver’s non-aggressive and gullible nature and attack him with arrows, hold him as prisoner, and finally try to entrap him through treachery because of their power as a unity. Gulliver is treated as war weapon irrespective of his size. Lilliputians are ruled by cruel leader who tortures and executes his subjects for insignificant matters. In their society ministers are not appointed based on knowledge, wisdom and capability instead appointed based on their skill at "leaping and creeping” by the leader which portrays unfairness in the society. The war between tiny island of Lilliputians that is Belfuscu and Lilliput is the event where the thirst of power and ruling is represented. In contrary to Lilliput land, Brobdingnag; the land of giants where they could dominate through their superior size, but they do not. When Gulliver is in the land of giants he is not treated like in Lilliput land which shows that they do not misuse the power of being giant compared to Gulliver though he is considered as a plaything.

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