What is one theme explored in Gulliver's Travels?

One prominent theme explored in "Gulliver's Travels" is the absurdity of human nature. Throughout the narrative, Jonathan Swift uses satire to illustrate the irrational behaviors, petty conflicts, and moral failings of humanity. By placing Gulliver in fantastical societies with their own distinctive traits—such as the tiny Lilliputians and the colossal Brobdingnagians—Swift highlights the absurdities of human pride, ambition, and social structures.

This exploration reveals how humans often act in self-serving ways that contradict their professed values and ethics. For example, the political machinations in Lilliput, driven by trivial differences, serve as a commentary on the futility and silliness of real-world politics. Through Gulliver’s eyes, readers are prompted to question the logic behind human actions and the irrationality that can often govern societies.

While the other themes mentioned may relate to various elements in the text, the theme of the absurdity of human nature is particularly central to Swift's critique of humanity as a whole, underscoring the satirical tone that characterizes the work.