What is Gulliver’s Opinion of the Political Projectors?
In Jonathan Swift’s satirical novel “Gulliver’s Travels,” the protagonist, Lemuel Gulliver, encounters various societies and cultures during his voyages. One of the most intriguing aspects of the novel is Gulliver’s observations and opinions of the political projectors, a group of individuals who, in the context of the story, are depicted as naive and dangerous dreamers. This article delves into Gulliver’s perspective on these political projectors and the implications of his observations.
Gulliver’s first encounter with the political projectors occurs on the island of Brobdingnag, where he is a prisoner. The projectors, who are members of the Brobdingnagian government, are described as men who spend their time devising grandiose plans to improve their society. However, these plans are often impractical and lead to chaos. Gulliver is initially intrigued by their ambition, but he soon becomes disillusioned with their methods.
One of the most notable examples of the political projectors’ folly is their attempt to build a new city. They spend years planning and designing the city, only to realize that it is impossible to execute their vision due to the lack of resources and the impracticality of their ideas. Gulliver observes that the projectors are more concerned with their own egos and the admiration of others than with the well-being of their society.
Gulliver’s opinion of the political projectors is further solidified when he encounters the Houyhnhnms, a race of intelligent horses, and the Yahoos, their less intelligent human counterparts. The Houyhnhnms, who are rational and logical, mock the Yahoos for their absurd behavior and the political projectors’ impractical plans. Gulliver, as a Yahoo, is initially amused by the Houyhnhnms’ satire but eventually comes to agree with their assessment of the political projectors.
Gulliver’s experiences with the political projectors and the Houyhnhnms serve as a commentary on the dangers of blind ambition and the importance of practicality in governance. By portraying the political projectors as naive dreamers, Swift criticizes the excesses of the Enlightenment era, where intellectuals often disregarded the practicalities of their ideas and the well-being of their societies.
In conclusion, Gulliver’s opinion of the political projectors in “Gulliver’s Travels” is one of skepticism and disillusionment. The projectors’ impractical and ego-driven plans highlight the dangers of blind ambition and the importance of practicality in governance. Through Gulliver’s observations, Swift offers a cautionary tale about the consequences of ignoring the realities of society in the pursuit of grandiose dreams.
