Gulliver's Travels
by Jonathan Swift
Table of Contents
Chapter 2 to Chapter 3
Chapter II
Despite the harsh treatment of the Lilliputians, Gulliver discovers that their land is breathtakingly beautiful. To show that he is a “clean” human being, Gulliver describes how he relieves himself, which includes servants wheeling away his excrement. Gulliver is granted a visit from the emperor, who arms himself with a sword. However, the two cannot understand one another due to language discrepancies. After the emperor leaves, some soldiers are left to guard him. Although they are told not to, some decide to shoot arrows at Gulliver. Six of them are tied up and handed to Gulliver. Gulliver places five of the offenders into his pocket, and he pretends to eat the sixth. However, he eventually cuts the offender’s ropes and lets him go. He then cuts the ropes of the other five offenders and frees them. His willingness to set the offenders free pleases the court.
The Lilliputians make a bed for Gulliver out of 600 tiny beds that have been sewn together. Villagers come to gawk at Gulliver. Despite finding favor in the court’s eyes for setting his offenders free, the government is still suspicious of Gulliver. Although some wish to kill Gulliver, others argue that his large corpse would cause even more consternation.
Because of Gulliver’s kind treatment of his offenders, the court decides to keep him alive. They give Gulliver copious amounts of food, language instructors, and tailors to make him large clothes. Gulliver wishes to be freed, but the emperor tells him that he must wait. Eventually, all of Gulliver’s weapons are confiscated.
Chapter III
Summary
Although the Lilliputians will not free Gulliver, they entertain him with various shows. One of these shows includes Rope-Dancers, who are vying for government employment. The Lilliputians wishing for a government position dance on the ropes, which are hung two feet from above the ground. Whoever can perform the highest jump wins the position. The emperor and the...
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