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The designs on the floating islanders clothes suggest that their perspective values astronomy and music. Though the floating islanders’ elevation above the Earth suggests physical power, their individual appearances only indicate physical powerlessness. Their drooping heads, crossed eyes, and pathetic reliance on flappers show that they cannot even control their own bodies. Gulliver’s interaction with the king implies that the islanders’ lack of control over their bodies was not due to stupidity but rather to overabsorption in matters of the mind. Gulliver has his own perspective on the truth about Laputa’s etymology, though it seems a bit presumptuous to assume he knows more about the native language than the native speakers do. As usual, Gulliver’s entry into a new society’s perspective comes with a new set of clothes. The tailor’s measurements exemplify an inability to apply knowledge practically. The Laputian state manages its subjects by exerting its physical power. It positions itself physically above them. Laputian society suffers the inability to use knowledge to practical effect. The Laputians’ refined geometrical and astronomical theories are too complex to serve the simple tasks of daily life (like building houses). Because the Laputians’ refuse to embrace more practical forms of geometry and astronomy, their knowledge is basically useless and just causes societal dysfunction. They live in defective houses and can only discuss the day’s weather in terms of the sun’s eventual demise. All of this contributes to Swift's satire of those in English and European culture who hold the theoretical and philosophical to be higher than everything else. The Laputian women clearly don’t have the same problem relating to their bodies that the Laputian men do, which makes sense as women must be more in touch with their bodies given the fact of having to bear children. Their knowledge of life is visceral and practical. Still, the men that control the state use government law to restrain the women within Laputa.