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   luannw Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   "Gulliver's Travels" is a satire of the flaws that Jonathan Swift saw in manking in general and of the English government specifically.  Irony is abundant throughout all four books that comprise the work.  One of the bigger examples of irony, though, in "A Voyage to Brobdingnag" occurs in chapter 6 when Gulliver, trying to get in the good graces of the king, describes the English system of government.  Gulliver is certain that his description will show the king how developed and civilized the English people are.  He is sure the king will have a higher opinion of him when he finishes his description.  The king, however, has a very low opinion of the English and Gulliver's race of people. The king says of them, "I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth."  Not what Gulliver expected, thus irony.  Swift is, of course, pointing out the flaws in his country's government.

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   Posted by luannw on Tuesday November 25, 2008 at 4:55 AM