Part 1, Chapters 1–4
Chapter 1
Lemuel Gulliver, the protagonist and first-person narrator, briefly introduces himself. His father was a minor landowner in Northamptonshire, and Gulliver was educated at Emanuel College, Cambridge, and the University of Leiden. He studied medicine and became a surgeon, working from time to time on board various ships. In 1699, having failed to make a success of his medical practice in London, Gulliver again accepted a position as ship’s surgeon on board the Antelope and set sail from Bristol for the South Seas.
Sailing from the South Seas to the East Indies, the Antelope is struck by a violent storm. The ship is wrecked, but Gulliver escapes and finally manages to swim to land, where he soon falls asleep. When he awakes, he finds himself unable to move, as he is tied down to the ground. He feels something moving on his leg, and this creature then advances across his body to his chin. It turns out to be a human figure less than six inches high, armed with a bow and arrow. Gulliver perceives that there are at least forty other similar figures behind the first. He gives a loud roar, frightening the little people, but they soon return and try to communicate with him in a language he does not understand. When this fails, and he attempts to free himself, they shoot at him with arrows, which are painful but not dangerous, until he lies still. At this point, a great lord, or hurgo, makes a long speech to him, which he does not understand. The people give him food and wine, after which he sleeps again.
Using a system of pulleys, the little people (who are known as Lilliputians, after their country, Lilliput) raise Gulliver onto a frame on wheels, and fifteen hundred horses pull him to the capital city. They give him a huge abandoned temple in which to stay, and the emperor, the principal lords of the court, and over 100,000 other people come out to see him.
Chapter 2
The emperor comes out on horseback to inspect the captive Gulliver. They attempt to communicate, and Gulliver tries various languages, including Dutch, Latin, French, Spanish, and Italian, but to no avail. Hundreds of beds, sheets, and blankets are provided for Gulliver to sleep in the temple, which he calls his “house.”
Gulliver later discovers that at this time, the emperor and his court held frequent meetings to determine what they should do with him. They were concerned about the possibility of his escaping and thought that the burden of feeding him might cause a famine. However, the court is impressed upon hearing that when six men tried shooting arrows at Gulliver, he merely put them in his pocket, then let them go. This demonstration of clemency leads the emperor to favor Gulliver and continue to provide food and servants for him. Having taken an inventory of his possessions, however, the Lilliputians confiscate Gulliver’s scimitar, pistols, and supply of gunpowder.
Chapter 3
Gulliver quickly becomes a favorite of the emperor, who commands performances to be put on for his amusement. One of these is a rope-dancing display, which particularly intrigues Gulliver. Candidates for high office, as well as existing lords of the court, dance upon a slender white thread, which is supposed to demonstrate their suitability to wield power. Another game of a similar kind involves the emperor holding out a stick, which competitors must either leap over or crawl under. Gulliver enjoys these games and even devises a new one for exercising the horses. The emperor later orders Gulliver to stand with his legs apart so that troops consisting of a thousand cavalry and three thousand foot-soldiers can march beneath him. Some of them look up, and Gulliver admits that the condition of his breeches causes “some opportunities for laughter and admiration.”
Shortly after this, the emperor grants Gulliver his liberty, in which he is supported by everyone at court except Admiral Skyresh Bolgolam, who has decided, without provocation, to be Gulliver’s enemy. Gulliver has to swear a solemn oath, including various provisions. He must not leave Lilliput or come into the capital without permission. He will do his best to avoid harming any Lilliputians. He will also be their ally in the forthcoming battle against the neighboring island of Blefuscu, which is now preparing to invade Lilliput. Having agreed to all these conditions, Gulliver is released from his chains.
Chapter 4
Having been freed, Gulliver makes a special request to be allowed to see Mildendo, the Lilliputian capital. He describes the city and the emperor’s palace, giving many precise dimensions, from a courtyard forty feet square to gates eighteen inches high. He announces his intention of someday composing a greater work which will contain a much fuller description of Lilliput than he is able to give here.
About a fortnight after his liberation, Gulliver receives a visit from Reldresal, one of the emperor’s ministers. Reldresal explains to him that Lilliput is plagued by factionalism, as well as by threats from outside. The greatest danger is from Blefuscu, with which they have been engaged in a war for the last three years. This war began with a dispute about the correct end of an egg to break before eating it. Many Lilliputians who prefer to break the big end of the egg (“Big-endians”) have found refuge at the court of Blefuscu and encouraged the emperor of that island to invade Lilliput. The conflict has so far claimed eleven thousand lives of Big-endian martyrs, who have died rather than consent to break their eggs at the smaller end. Gulliver assures Reldresal that, despite being a foreigner, he will loyally defend Lilliput and its emperor against all enemies.
Expert Q&A
How did Gulliver arrive at Lilliput and what was his treatment there?
Gulliver arrives at Lilliput by swimming ashore after a shipwreck. Initially, the Lilliputians treat him as an enemy, tying him down and shooting him with arrows. Eventually, they begin to like him and use him in their war against Blefuscu. However, Gulliver angers them by refusing to enslave Blefuscu and by putting out a palace fire with his urine, leading him to flee to Blefuscu.
In Gulliver's Travels, what problems does Gulliver pose to the Lilliputians?
In Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, Gulliver causes all kinds of problems for the Lilliputians. At first, they are terrified of him. Then they have to figure out ways to feed him, transport him, house him, and clothe him. They are also appalled by his behavior, especially when he urinates on the palace to put out a fire.
How was Gulliver tied down on the seashore in Gulliver's Travels?
Gulliver is tied down on the seashore with his arms and legs fastened to the ground by strings, which are secured with pegs. His hair is similarly restrained, and his body is bound with slender ligatures. Although Gulliver can break these bindings, the Lilliputians deter his escape with arrows and spears. Eventually, he chooses to remain still, respecting the Lilliputians' hospitality and the effort they made to feed him.
What happened to the Antelope and what was Gulliver's condition when he woke up?
In Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, the ship Antelope is wrecked after hitting a rock during a storm, leaving Gulliver to swim to safety. Upon waking, Gulliver finds himself in Lilliput, tied down by the tiny Lilliputians who shoot him with tiny arrows when he attempts to move. He is effectively captured by these six-inch-tall inhabitants, unable to free himself from his bindings.
How did the Lilliputians keep Gulliver captive?
The Lilliputians kept Gulliver captive by tying him down with strong ropes while he was asleep on the beach after his shipwreck. When he woke up, he found his limbs and hair securely fastened. Despite his attempts to break free, the Lilliputians' army used bows and arrows to subdue him, shooting him with hundreds of arrows.
What is the purpose of the letter in chapter 1 of Gulliver's Travels?
The letter in Chapter 1 serves to establish credibility for the fantastical narrative by presenting it as a true account edited and published by Richard Sympson, a fictional friend of Gulliver. Sympson claims to have received the story from Gulliver and edited it for clarity, which allows Jonathan Swift to preemptively address any inconsistencies or errors in the tale. This technique enhances the satirical and fictional elements by making them appear more plausible.
Why did Gulliver originally go to sea?
In Gulliver's Travels, Gulliver originally goes to sea to make money after his attempts to establish up a successful surgical practice fail.
Why did Gulliver perceive the Lilliputians as fearless?
Gulliver perceives the Lilliputians as fearless due to their audacity in tying him down despite his gigantic size compared to them. Their courage is evident when they mount and walk on his body while he is partially free, and when they repeatedly return to confront him with arrows and spears, even after initially fleeing. Gulliver is impressed by their bravery and chooses to remain still, acknowledging their tenacity and the trust they place in him.
What is Gulliver's initial reaction upon awakening from his deep sleep?
Upon awakening from his deep sleep, Gulliver is shocked to find himself tied to the ground, unable to move his head or body. His initial astonishment intensifies when he notices tiny human-like creatures, only six inches tall, crawling over him. Despite briefly breaking free, he is attacked by the little people and wisely decides to remain still. Unbeknownst to him, he has arrived in the land of Lilliput.
How do the Lilliputians gain favor at court?
In "Gulliver's Travels," the Lilliputians gain favor at court by performing absurd tasks like tightrope dancing and limbo, which satirizes British political appointments based on social connections rather than merit. Candidates for high office are judged on their ability to perform these feats, with the highest jumper or best limbo performer gaining the position. Jonathan Swift uses this satire to criticize the British court's superficiality and flawed governance.
How do the Lilliputians describe Gulliver's hat in Gulliver's Travels?
The Lilliputians describe Gulliver's hat as a "great black substance" lying on the ground, with wide, round edges and a middle rising as high as a man. Initially, they wonder if it is a living creature due to its size. They discover it is hollow after climbing and stomping on it, speculating it might belong to the "Man Mountain." Their description highlights their unfamiliarity and the hat's enormous appearance to them.
What is the significance of the Lilliputians choosing a temple as Gulliver's home?
The Lilliputians' choice of a temple as Gulliver's home highlights their religious zealotry and the absurdity of their religious quarrels. The temple is vacant because it is considered profaned due to a murder, symbolizing how their religious disputes lead to societal issues. Swift uses this setting to critique how their fervent and divisive religious practices contribute to their problems, emphasizing the irrationality of their conflicts.
The role and purpose of the rope dancers in "Gulliver's Travels"
The rope dancers in "Gulliver's Travels" symbolize the absurdity and corruption of political appointments in the British government. They perform dangerous acrobatics to win favor and high positions, highlighting the arbitrary and often ludicrous nature of political power and advancement.
The Big-Endians and their conflict with the Little-Endians in Gulliver's Travels
The Big-Endians and Little-Endians in Gulliver's Travels represent the absurdity of religious and political conflicts. Their dispute over the correct way to break an egg parodies real-world conflicts, highlighting how trivial differences can lead to intense and prolonged strife, reflecting Jonathan Swift's critique of human pettiness and irrationality in such matters.
What frightens the Lilliputians more than Gulliver's scimitar in Gulliver's Travels?
The Lilliputians are more frightened by Gulliver's enormous size than by his scimitar. Being only six inches tall, they find Gulliver's six-foot stature terrifying, as he is twelve times their height. This fear is portrayed as natural by Jonathan Swift, as Gulliver experiences a similar fear when he encounters the giant inhabitants of Brobdingnag, who are twelve times his size, fearing they might harm him just as he could harm the Lilliputians.
What happens when the ship strikes a rock in Gulliver's Travels?
When Gulliver's ship strikes a rock, it splits in two, prompting Gulliver and several crewmen to escape in a lifeboat. A strong wind separates Gulliver from the others, and he eventually washes ashore on Lilliput. Exhausted, he falls asleep and wakes up tied to the ground by the Lilliputians. This shipwreck initiates the events of the story.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.
