The war
between Lilliput and Blefuscu erupted over the issue of the proper way of breaking an egg. When
the Emperor of Lilliput decreed that eggs should (contrary to the old practice) be broken at the
small end, those people who clung to the old practice of breaking at the larger end were exiled,
and were then given sanctuary and supported by the Blefuscuans.
It's not hard
to see that Swift is parodying the kinds of religious disputes that constantly arose among
Europeans (and others). Swift was a devout Anglican and a clergyman himself. One can interpret
the Lilliput-Blefuscu dispute in various ways, especially as aof the disagreements between
Protestants and Roman Catholics, or the disputes within Protestantism. But
in spite of being a religious believer himself, one might argue that Swift seems to be attacking
religion overall, not just a particular sect or denomination.
Swift's satiric
approach is often to make a sweeping assault on human nature in general, rather than just
specific factions or beliefs. In the Lilliput-Blefuscu war it is the universal silliness of
humans who argue about trivial mattersnot simply concerning religion, but anythingthat Swift
parodies.
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