What does Gulliver’s final stance on humanity reflect about his character development?

Prepare for the Gulliver's Travels Test. Dive into detail with flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with useful hints and explanations. Ready yourself for success!

Gulliver’s final stance on humanity is one of rejection and disdain, marking a significant development in his character throughout the narrative. After experiencing various societies and cultures, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with humanity's flaws, such as greed, corruption, and pettiness. This growing alienation from human beings reflects not only his dissatisfaction with the world around him but also a profound transformation from an initially curious and hopeful observer of human nature to a bitter critic.

In his travels, Gulliver witnesses the best and worst of human behavior, from the Lilliputians' trivial conflicts to the Houyhnhnms' rational society. The stark contrast between the noble horses and the flawed humans ultimately leads him to a nihilistic view of humanity, where he finds himself unable to relate to or accept the behaviors and morals of his fellow people. Thus, his journey concludes not with a sense of connection or a wish to improve society but with a complete rejection of it, highlighting the theme of disillusionment prevalent in the novel.

Gulliver’s final stance illustrates how the experiences he endured shaped his outlook, emphasizing his isolation and cynicism, which ultimately define his character development by the end of his travels.

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