Gulliver’s Travels

By Jonathan Swift
“Lilliput”
 Chapter
One
 Tells of Gulliver’s childhood and young adulthood
 Takes a voyage on the Antelope, is shipwrecked
 Wakes up on the Island Lilliput
 Is a captive of the Lilliputians, people who are six
inches tall
 Is taken to the capital city and housed in a temple
 Chapter Two
The Emperor visits Gulliver and makes decisions for
the captive’s future
Gulliver is shot at by Lilliputians
He shows his clemency by scaring his attackers but
letting them go unscathed, impressing the Emperor
Intellectuals of the island are appointed to teach
Gulliver the local language
The contents of Gulliver’s pockets are examined
and recorded
The examiners confiscate some of his possessions
including his weapons
 Chapter Two
The political allegory of England between
1708-1715 begins:
The search of Gulliver’s possessions is
symbolic of The Committee of Secrecy’s
investigation of two Tories: Robert Harley –
Earl of Oxford and Henry St James Duke
Bolingbroke
The leaders were accused of favoring
France in the Treaty of Utrecht which ended
the War of Spanish Succession
Also, take note of how absolutely trivial
things, like emptying pockets, become
“literally” an act of parliament with the
Liliputians.
 The Emperor rewards Gulliver for his good behavior
Political candidates perform on ropes to gain favor with the
ruler
Swift likens this rope-dancing performance to England’s
Orders of the Garter, Bath and Thistle

Chapter Three
Although Gulliver says he has never seen such
performances, Swift is quoted saying, “And he who will leap
over the stick for the King/ Is qualified best for a dog on a
string”
The court agrees to set him free with a list terms and
conditions
 Chapter Four
 Gulliver visits the city of Mildendo which represents
London
 Reldresal, the Principal Secretary, explains the politics of
Lilliput
 The opposing parties are the Tramechsans and
Slamecksans who represent England’s Tories and Whigs
 They are warring over which end to break eggs which
satirizes the conflict of Catholics and Protestants
 The Lilliputians are involved in a war with Blefuscu
representing France in the War of Spanish Succession
 Gulliver pledges his allegance to the Emperor in fighting
the Blefuscuians
 Gulliver swims to Blefuscu
 Under attack, he steals their entire fleet of ships
 Gulliver is made a Nardac, the highest Lillipution honor
 Gulliver protests the court’s plan to conquer the Blefuscuians
 The Blefuscuians arrive to negotiate peace and Gulliver
promises to visit their country
 This visit is frowned upon as Bolingbroke’s visit to France was
 The empress’ apartments in the palace catch on fire
 Gulliver is summoned for help, putting out the fire by urinating
on it
 Although he saves the palace, the Emperor does not approve
of how he went about it while the Empress vows revenge
 The emperor’s dislike of Gulliver’s peaceful position on the war
may refer to the Treaty of Utrecht which stopped the war
questionably. The urination is in reference to Queen Anne’s
relationship with Swift.

Chapter Five
 Chapter Six
The author describes Lilliputian culture
This society values morals over ability when appointing public
servants
Gulliver notes that the Lilliputians differ from the English in
that they use rewards as well as punishment to keep society in
order
A description of the Lilliputian education system is given
The government is described as somewhat Socialist
Chapter Six
Gulliver describes his treatment:
food and clothing
The author is accused of
misconduct with a respectable
lady
This incident relates to the
infidelity of Catherine Shorter,
wife of Sir Robert Walpole a Whig
leader
Walpole is represented by
Filmnap the Treasurer
 Chapter Seven
Gulliver learns that the government has
turned against him
He is accused of high treason
The emperor is persuaded that Gulliver
should be blinded instead of killed
This reflects the impeachment of
Bolingbroke and Oxford where it was
suggested they only be accused of
misdemeanors rather than treason
Gulliver flees to Blefuscu where he is
welcomed
Like Gulliver, Bolingbroke feared he
wouldn’t receive a fair trial and escaped to
France
Chapter Eight
The author discovers a damaged boat
off the coast of Blefuscu
The locals assist him in acquiring and
refurbishing the boat
The Emperor of Lilliput calls for
Gulliver’s return but is snubbed politely by
the Blefuscuian Emperor
Gulliver is given permission to leave the
island
Chapter Eight
After a month’s preparation,
Gulliver departs with food and
animals for propagation
He is picked up by an English
vessel, his heart swelling with
patriotism at the prospect of
returning to his homeland
In England, he sees his family
and displays his miniature farm
animals
Finally he sets off for another
most excellent adventure