• Home Page
  • Differences Of Religion In Gulliver's Travels

Differences Of Religion In Gulliver's Travels

Improved Essays
Show More
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

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    The Christian Faith In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight
    • 1071 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Christian Faith In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

    At face value, the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight tells of a knight who is challenged by a Green Knight to show the decline in the knighthood, but that is only the literal interpretation. Throughout the story, there are many parallels to the Christian faith seen. The Green Knight places the young knight in a trial just like God might do to Christians. The Green Knight mentions that if Gawain seeks him, then he will be found which is very similar to when Christ says that if we seek, we shall find. The motif of the number three as seen in the Bible for example Peter denying Christ three times and Christ rising after the third day is seen, as well.…

    • 1071 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Apush Dbq
    • 682 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Apush Dbq

    The 16th and 17th century were tumultuous times. Starting with one humble man, Martin Luther, the two centuries transform and have to conform to the religious changes. Protestants and Roman Catholics conflicted heavily with one another. Soon, Protestantism spread all over Europe and Protestants were rooted in most of the populations. However, the dominant religion changed with monarchs, and this pendulum caused discord within kingdoms.…

    • 682 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    How Did The Great Awakening Affect Society
    • 314 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How Did The Great Awakening Affect Society

    This is a quote from the famous ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God’ sermon by Jonathan Edwards. A new era dawned at the turn of the 1730’s and 40’s. The Great Awakening swept through Protestant Europe and British America. It changed the people’s views towards one another and towards God.…

    • 314 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Reasons For Tudor Rebellions
    • 1193 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Reasons For Tudor Rebellions

    “I have no desire to make windows into men’s souls” – the famous words Elizabeth I told her subjects when she came to the throne in 1558. She was referring to the religious reforms and that she had no desire to interpret either Protestantism or Catholicism so closely to cause tensions or rebellions, like so many that had occurred during the reigns of her predecessors. Despite this, some would disagree and say it was the tough social, political or economic climate at the time that led to these inevitable revolts by the common people and subjects. This essay will look at how far religious discontent was the reason for the Tudor rebellions.…

    • 1193 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Religion In The Middle Ages Dbq Essay
    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Religion In The Middle Ages Dbq Essay

    Religion in the Middle Ages had a huge impact on people’s lives and medieval Europe. People would do many things because of their religion! Some ways that religion affected people’s daily lives were the Crusades happening, people devoting their entire lives to the church, and the church having power over kings. One way how religion affected medieval life was that many people fought in the Crusades. According to Document 6, Christians would go on pilgrimages to visit holy sites.…

    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Age Of Enlightenment DBQ
    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Age Of Enlightenment DBQ

    After centuries of intolerance and absolutism dominated the European continent and left the majority of its people with few to no rights, living in conditions with little hope to advance themselves as individuals, the cruelty of the Middle Ages finally gave way to a new movement that offered hope for a better life. There have always been great philosophers throughout history, dating back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans, but during the Enlightenment, some of the most influential voices including Voltaire, Condorcet, Baron de Montesquieu and John Locke literally changed the course of Western civilization. The Age of Enlightenment represented more than just a collection of thoughts, but formed the fundamental backbone of ideals and principles…

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    The Role Of Individualism In The Renaissance
    • 1749 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Role Of Individualism In The Renaissance

    The Roman Catholic Church, being the only universal European institution of the Middle Ages, practically governed every aspect of society. Medieval Europeans viewed the Church as a blessing from God; a humble order which was sent to protect them from the numerous raids and invasions which consequently led to chaos and disorder in society. Europeans that lived during the medieval times were pious and devout Christians. They believed that the road to eternal happiness was to fear their almighty father in the Heavens, to obey His commandments, and to apply bible principles in their everyday lives. With hopes to be favored in God’s eyes, medieval Christians turned to religious authorities for guidance on not only spiritual, but also worldly matters.…

    • 1749 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    European Witch Craze Essay
    • 1337 Words
    • 6 Pages

    European Witch Craze Essay

    There were many different factors that contributed to the European witchcraze, one of which included the religious changes of the period. Before a judgment is to be made on how responsible these religious changes were for the European witchcraze, we must first take into account all of the other aspects which could also have some responsibility for the European witchcraze. Some of these aspects include: Intellectual changes, legal changes, religious changes, social & economic changes and warfare. Religion was a very important part of life in the early modern period. It would be extremely unusual for a person to consider themselves not a part of the accepted religion of their State.…

    • 1337 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Religious Tolerance In The American Colonies
    • 958 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Religious Tolerance In The American Colonies

    Ronald Regan once said, “Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.” Religious tolerance has been an important aspect since the beginning of U.S History. Religious tolerance is what makes the United States successful concerning human rights. The importance of Rhode Island will be shown through three different resources: Colonial America, Give me Liberty, and The American Colonies. The colony of Rhode Island is important to U.S History since it was the first colony to introduce the concept of religious tolerance, which will be shown by the way they implemented religious toleration in its political, religious, and economic activity.…

    • 958 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Religion In Colonial America
    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Religion In Colonial America

    Since the dawn of time, every major civilization has had religion or a certain set of beliefs shape how that collective grows, thrives, lives, or dies. In its infancy years, the New World colonies were certainly not an exception. Religion can either be a center of unity or an area of disagreement between enemies. For the European populace, religion was just that; a disagreement on what to believe that spurred groups to migrate to the new world to avoid persecution and to worship in peace. What the community believed and how they combined those beliefs with the governing body, shaped the lives of every person living in the New World.…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Tartuffe And Candide Analysis
    • 1406 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Tartuffe And Candide Analysis

    Using different abstract procedures, Molière and Voltaire have effectively passed on their perspectives about the negative parts of religion in Tartuffe and Candide. By cautioning individuals to the threats of religion, they would have liked to improve society. In spite of the fact that Tartuffe and Candide were both composed a couple of hundreds of years prior, their messages stay applicable today. Our reality is torn by religious clashes in many places, for example, the Middle East and the previous Yugoslavia. The continuous worldwide war on dread is a war against religious…

    • 1406 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Religious Toleration Dbq
    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Religious Toleration Dbq

    A number of elements helped pave the way for religious toleration such as diverse settlements, colonial unification, and mass movements such as Reformation, The Enlightenment, and The Great Awakening. Democratic practices and desire for freedom gave American colonist more choice of religion than any other group in the world. The movements fostered a feeling of unity among the colonists by narrowing the gap between different denominations, and creating similarities between them, which led to increased religious toleration between the colonists. Factors and circumstances such as religious modifications made in The Protestant Reformation, an appreciation for individualism present during The Enlightenment, and newfound religious zeal celebrated…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal
    • 1113 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal

    Throughout the passage, Swift uses calculations he made to not only prove his credibility as a narrator but the credibility of the proposal. In one particular section, Swift lists the six advantages to his proposal. In this list, Swift is able to continue his appeal to every citizen of Ireland. He criticizes the papists, offers money to the poor, shows the economic gain, the relief of burdens on poor families, the refinement of the meat in recipes for the wealthy, and a social improvement for the commoners and poor. The proposal of eating infants seems less absurd, and in fact, it would greatly help improve Ireland.…

    • 1113 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Politics And The Wars Of Religion
    • 903 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Politics And The Wars Of Religion

    Politics and the Wars of Religion By: Phillip Ableidinger, Jin Johnson, and Matthew Kellen “Discuss the relationship between politics and religion by examining the wars of religion. Choose three specific examples from the following: the Dutch Revolt, the French wars of religion, the English Civil war, and the Thirty Years’ war.” Politics and religion have for long been two sides of the same coin. Although it’s easy to dismiss their relationship as desultory or ineffectual, it has jointly wielded considerable power on the geopolitical stage; perhaps even single handedly changing the course of modern European history. The partnership between church and state cannot be understated, having been the main cause of power-struggles, societal collapse and power shifts throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.…

    • 903 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    What Role Did Religion Play In The American Revolution
    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What Role Did Religion Play In The American Revolution

    Playing both Sides Religion played a significant role in the history of the United States. The issue affected both the American and british side of the war. Till this day many the role religion played during the revolution seemed to still be up for debate among many. Historians have different opinions about what role religion played, some believe that the role that religion played an crucial part in the revolution and some seem to think the role of religion wasn’t so important. Religion offered a moral sanction for opposition to the British Crown, Many American’s believed that revolution was justified in the sight of God.…

    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2024 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings