Entry1: In short notes of not less than 20 lines, compare how both Defoe and Swift portray their protagonists to enhance their critical reflections on the age.

• During the 18th century, British colonialism was expanding rapidly. In Gulliver's Travels, Swift sheds light on the imperial approach in the age through the ridiculous conflict between Lilliput and Blefuscu about how to crack an egg. He alludes to the real conflict between England and France, highlighting the colonial European arrogance. Lemuel Gulliver refuses to be "an instrument of bringing a free and brave People into Slavery" (Swift 48) when asked to help Lilliput to turn Blefuscu into a province of them. He acts as a portrayal of Swift's criticism against the English expansion and slavery.

• In Robinson Crusoe, Crusoe presents Britain's colonial hierarchy and the widespread use of slave labor in the 18th century. He treats Xury, the Moorish boy, as a slave while he himself is a slave to the Moorish pirates. Crusoe embodies the colonial mindset back then when he sells his loyal servant, Xury, for a small sum of money. He is similar to Britain when he buys slaves from Guinea to help with his plantation in Brazil, exploiting the natives in faraway lands to expand economically. Daniel Defoe critiques the harsh colonial practices of Britain during that age through being portrayed in Crusoe as both a slave and a slave trader. 

• In Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift critiques empiricism in the 18th century through Lemuel Gulliver's characterization as a flat and unreliable narrator. In the first voyage, Gulliver encounters the absurdities of Lilliput while providing strictly factual descriptions. For instance, he reacts seriously to the trivial war between Lilliput and Blefuscu, stating, "I was ready, with the Hazard of my Life, to defend his Person and State against all Invaders" (Swift 44). His serious tone highlights his tendency to observe situations without acknowledging their ridiculousness or providing meaningful insights. This behavior reflects Swift's criticism of empiricists, who depend solely on what they see, disregarding traditions and failing to respond appropriately.

• In Robinson Crusoe, Crusoe serves as a great embodiment of the empirical approach of the 18th century. He is depicted as a well-developed character who learns about himself through observation and experience. Daniel Defoe captures the spirit of the age, emphasizing the value of knowledge based on scientific reasoning rather than innate beliefs. Crusoe's survival on the island largely hinges on his practice of 'trial and error'. He learns various skills and finds ways to secure the supplies necessary for living. For instance, he reflects on his previous mistakes when he says, "I got aboard the ship as before, and prepared a second raft, and having had experience of the first" (Defoe 66). This illustrates the significance of analyzing each process to ultimately achieve his goals.