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Differences Of Religion In Gulliver's Travels

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In Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, Swift portrays the differences of state religions as a comedic spectacle, directly contrary to his personal viewpoints in favor of a state religion. In Louis XIV’s Versailles, religion, specifically Catholicism, was intertwined into the French government. As an absolutist king, Louis controlled the entire state of France and ensured all of France was Catholic. At Versailles, Louis displayed his power over France through religion. Both Swift and Louis XIV believe the role of religion should have a strong emphasis on public appearance, and regarding differences of religion, one should simply conform to one’s state’s religion.
Throughout Gulliver’s Travels, the differences of religion are portrayed as a …show more content…
proposes his solution, have everyone choose their own religion. As he explains to Gulliver, “That all true Believers shall break their Eggs at the convinivet End: and which is the convenient End, seems, in my humble Opinion, to be left to every Man’s Conscience” (Swift, 43). The emperor proposes everyone choose their own religion, or what way to break their egg. However, Swift is in direct opposition to this, as he believes everyone should conform to the state’s religion. Swift believed that public conformity to a state’s religion was the solution to solving conflicts stemming from religion. A supporter of the Test Act, Swift believed one should only be able to hold a political office in England, if one was a member of the Church of England. To prove membership to the church, one must take communion during Easter in the Church of England, proving one was not Catholic. Despite being in favor of the Test Act, Swift did believe one could practice whatever religion one desired, in the private of one’s own home; as long as one publically practiced the state religion. Therefore, Swift utilizes the importance of public appearances of religion and practicing religion, over one’s own personal …show more content…
Charles Le Brun's painting, The Anointing of Louis XIV, depicts Louis’s official ceremony. Although this ceremony did not actually make Louis king, it rather reinforced Louis’s kingship, acting as a solidification for his Divine Kingship. There were three parts to this very public ceremony-- the oath, crowning and anointing. The most important part of the ceremony, the anointing, made Louis XIV the divine ruler of France, as he was anointed with chrism. The sacré belief was “God has given [Louis] to be our King” emphsizing Louis’s Divine Kingship, his right to rule. Having and being linked to God’s power was reinforced throughout Louis’s life, as it was said he the royal touch, roi thaumaturge, when “The King touches you, God cures you” as displayed in Jean Jouvenet painting, Louis XIV Curing the Scrofula. Throughout Louis XIV’s rule, he was always the public center display of power and also religion (Catholicism) throughout all of

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