In Lilliput, land of the little people, we see a society consumed by their own all-important issues: social hierarchy, international politics, even violence and warfare. However, because of the tiny stature of the Lilliputians, their social issues and struggles seem insignificant and meaningless, for instance when they fought over the correct way to break an egg. Swift's message is clear: viewed from a proper perspective, the petty issues and squabbles of mankind are as insignificant as those of the little people. A similar critique based on perspective is seen in the behavior of the giants of Brobdingnag: although depicted in a more positive light than the Lilliputians, the giants are clearly overly proud and arrogant in their size and grandeur, a reflection of mankind's own arrogance in our appearance and technological achievements. .
Few elements of human social behavior - particularly the behavior of the English courts and members of European high society in the 18th century - escape Swift's criticisms. This is particularly apparent in the first voyage to Lilliput, as Swift describes the secrecy, gossip and intrigue of the Lilliputian Court; he notes the nature of the royal hierarchy, as the rank and esteem of the royal ministers is established simply by how high they can jump over a rope! Discussions of the political parties of the Lilliputians - and how the only difference between them seems to be the height of the heels on their shoes - are used to criticize the obvious sameness of the English political factions of the time, and even the petty squabbles among branches of Christianity are satirized in the disputes between the Small and Big Indians.
In the third of Gulliver's voyages, in which he visits Laputa, Swift directs his criticism of mankind towards the thinking professions: the scientists, scholars and intellectuals.