How did the war between Lilliput and Blefuscu begin in Gulliver's Travels?

brilliantly satirizes conflicts in the Western world through the Lilliput - Blefuscu war in his
novel, . Though the war is bitter and violent, the conflict between the
nations of Lilliput and Blefuscu started because of an absurd disagreement: Lilliput believes an
egg should be broken from the small end, while Belfuscu believes it should be broken from the
big end. 

This war is an importantfor one major reason: it pokes fun at the
contemporary wars and conflicts of Swift's day. Though our wars might seem to be based on
rational reasons, Swift says, they're ultimately as silly and absurd as the debate over how to
break open an egg. The truly insignificant nature of the conflict is mirrored by the size of the
citizens of Lilliput and Blefuscu; just as they are physically small, people from Lilliput and
Blefuscu are wrapped up in tiny disputes blown way out of proportion. Thus, through this
humorous depiction of a war, Swift suggests that Western conflicts are small-minded, absurd, and
ultimately unnecessary.