Gulliver's Voyage to Lilliput

Lemuel Gulliver's journey from shipwreck to his escape from the tiny kingdom of Lilliput.

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Shipwreck and Stranding

The Shipwreck of the Antelope The Storm and the Wreck Lemuel Gulliver, serving as a surgeon on the merchant ship Antelope, is caught in a violent storm that drives the vessel northwest of Van Diemen's Land. The crew, weakened by illness and labor, spies a rock, and the ship is split. Six men, including Gulliver, escape in a boat, but it soon capsizes. Gulliver alone swims for his life, pushed by wind and tide until he finds himself within his depth near an unknown shore. The Exhausted Landing After walking nearly a mile in shallow water, Gulliver reaches the beach at about eight in the evening. Too weak to explore further, he lies down on short, soft grass and falls into a deep sleep, which lasts around nine hours. This moment of vulnerability marks the beginning of his extraordinary adventure among the Lilliputians. The Calm Before the Captivity Gulliver's sleep is undisturbed, but when he awakens at daylight, he discovers he is completely immobilized, tied down by many slender ligatures. This peaceful yet helpless state contrasts sharply with the chaos of the shipwreck and sets the stage for his first encounter with the tiny inhabitants of Lilliput.

Capture by the Lilliputians

The Tying of the Man-Mountain The Awakening and the Tiny Attackers As Gulliver struggles to rise, he realizes his arms and legs are fastened to the ground, his long hair tied down, and his body bound from armpits to thighs. He hears a confused noise and feels something alive moving on his leg. Bending his eyes downward, he sees a human creature not six inches high, armed with a bow and arrow. Soon, over forty more of the same kind appear. Gulliver's roar of astonishment frightens them, but they soon return, and one cries out "Hekinah degul!" The Shower of Arrows Gulliver breaks the strings on his left arm, but the Lilliputians respond with a volley of arrows that prick like needles. He covers his face with his left hand, and they shoot another flight into the air, some falling on his body. He decides to lie still until night, when he can free himself. However, the Lilliputians build a stage and a person of quality makes a long speech, offering promises and threats. Gulliver, famished, indicates he needs food, and the Hurgo orders baskets of meat to be brought. The First Meal and the Oath of Submission Gulliver eats several animals at a mouthful and drinks two hogsheads of wine. The Lilliputians dance on his breast in joy. He is tempted to seize them but remembers the pain of the arrows and the promise of honor. He submissively signals that they may do with him what they please. The Hurgo and his train withdraw, and the Lilliputians anoint his wounds with a soothing ointment, then give him a sleepy potion, causing him to sleep for eight hours.

Transport to Mildendo

The Journey to the Capital The Ingenious Machine While Gulliver sleeps, the emperor and his council decide to transport him to the capital city. Five hundred carpenters and engineers prepare a huge wooden frame on twenty-two wheels, seven feet long and four wide. Eighty poles one foot high are erected, and strong cords are fastened to bandages around Gulliver's neck, hands, body, and legs. Nine hundred of the strongest men draw up the cords by pulleys, raising him into the engine. Fifteen hundred of the emperor's largest horses, each about four and a half inches high, draw the engine toward Mildendo. The Awakening and the Parade About four hours into the journey, Gulliver awakens when an officer's half-pike tickles his nose, causing him to sneeze. The carriage stops to adjust, and the march continues. Five hundred guards surround him with torches and arrows. The next morning at sunrise, they arrive within two hundred yards of the city gates. The emperor and his entire court come out to meet him, but the great officers prevent the emperor from mounting his body. The Lodging in the Temple The procession stops at an ancient temple, the largest in the kingdom, which had been polluted by an unnatural murder and now serves as a common building. The king's smith fixes four score and eleven chains to Gulliver's left leg with thirty-six padlocks. He is allowed to creep into the temple and lie at full length. The people flock to see him, and a proclamation forbids anyone from mounting his body on pain of death. The crowd is immense, and the emperor views him from a nearby turret.

Learning the Language and Gaining Favor

The Road to Freedom The Emperor's Visits and the Language Lessons After his confinement in the temple, the emperor frequently visits Gulliver, and six of the greatest scholars are appointed to teach him the Lilliputian language. In about three weeks, Gulliver makes great progress and begins to converse with the emperor. He repeatedly begs for his liberty, and the emperor responds that it must be a work of time, requiring first a peace oath. Gulliver is advised to acquire the good opinion of the people through patience and discreet behavior. The Search of the Pockets The emperor, fearing Gulliver might carry dangerous weapons, orders two officers to search him. Gulliver consents, and the officers make an exact inventory of his possessions: a piece of cloth, a silver chest (snuffbox), writings (pocketbook), a comb, pistols, bullets, a watch, a knife, a razor, and coins. The emperor is particularly amazed by the watch, which makes a continual noise. Gulliver's scimitar and pistols are stored away, but his spectacles and a pocket perspective are kept hidden in a secret pocket. The Clemency Towards the Six Criminals When some rabble shoot arrows at Gulliver, the colonel orders six ringleaders to be delivered to him. Gulliver takes them in his hand, puts five in his pocket, and makes a show of eating the sixth. The crowd is terrified, but he cuts the strings and sets them free, earning much admiration at court. This act of clemency greatly improves his standing.

The Court Diversions and the Parade

Entertaining the Court The Rope-Dancers and the Stick Leapers Gulliver is entertained by the country shows, particularly the rope-dancers, who perform on a slender white thread for high offices. Flimnap, the treasurer, is the most skilled. Another diversion involves leaping and creeping under a stick held by the emperor, with prizes of colored silk threads. Gulliver also entertains the court by building a stage with sticks and his handkerchief, upon which twenty-four horsemen perform mock skirmishes, delighting the emperor and even the empress. The Recovery of the Hat Express arrives informing the emperor that a great black substance has been found near where Gulliver was first taken. It is his hat, which had fallen off during his swim. Gulliver describes its use, and the next day the hat is brought, dragged by five horses. It is slightly damaged but still usable. The Colossus Parade The emperor orders a part of the army to march under Gulliver as he stands with his legs apart. The foot march by twenty-four abreast, the horse by sixteen, with drums and colors. This grand spectacle impresses the court and further solidifies Gulliver's position as a valuable asset.

Granting Liberty and the Articles

The Oath of Freedom The Articles of Release After many petitions, the emperor mentions Gulliver's liberty in council. Only Skyrris Bolgolam, the admiral, opposes it, but the board carries the motion. The articles are drawn up by Bolgolam himself. They include conditions: Gulliver must not leave without license, must not enter the metropolis without order, must confine his walks to high roads, must not trample subjects, must carry messengers for express, must be an ally against Blefuscu, must assist in building, and must survey the kingdom. In return, he receives a daily allowance of food for 1724 Lilliputians. The Swearing Ceremony Gulliver swears to the articles in the Lilliputian manner: holding his right foot in his left hand, placing the middle finger of his right hand on his crown, and his thumb on his right ear. He performs the ceremony with great cheerfulness, though some articles are servile. His chains are unlocked, and he is at full liberty. The emperor himself attends, and Gulliver prostrates himself at his feet. The Mathematical Calculation The emperor's mathematicians had calculated Gulliver's size using a quadrant, finding the proportion of twelve to one, and determining that his body contains at least 1724 Lilliputians, hence the food allowance. This demonstrates the ingenuity and exact economy of the Lilliputians, which Gulliver admires.

Capture of the Blefuscu Fleet

The Great Exploit The Plan and the Preparation Gulliver learns of the imminent invasion from Blefuscu and forms a plan to seize their fleet. He consults experienced seamen and obtains a warrant for strong cables and iron bars. He trebles the cables and twists three bars together into hooks. Wading into the sea, he swims to the enemy fleet, fastens hooks to the prows, and cuts the anchor cables while being shot at by thousands of arrows. He protects his eyes with his hidden spectacles. The Victory and the Aftermath Gulliver pulls fifty of the largest men-of-war after him, while the Blefuscudians scream in despair. The emperor and his court watch from the shore, and when Gulliver arrives, he is created a Nardac, the highest title of honor. The emperor wants to reduce Blefuscu to a province, but Gulliver refuses to be an instrument of slavery, arguing for justice and policy. This refusal plants the seeds of his later downfall. The Opposition Grows Flimnap and Bolgolam, already his enemies, use this refusal to turn the emperor against him. The intrigue begins, and Gulliver's open declaration of independence marks the start of his troubles at court. The capture of the fleet is a high point of his service, but it also sets the stage for the conspiracy that forces him to flee.

Escape from Lilliput

The Flight to Blefuscu The Conspiracy Revealed A friend at court, Reldresal, secretly visits Gulliver and informs him of a conspiracy led by Bolgolam, Flimnap, and others. Articles of impeachment have been drawn up, accusing him of high treason: touching the empress while extinguishing the fire, refusing to reduce Blefuscu, aiding the Blefuscu ambassadors, and preparing to visit Blefuscu. The council has decided to put out his eyes and then starve him to death. Gulliver is horrified but recalls his oath and the favors he has received. The Decision to Flee Rather than stand trial, Gulliver decides to use his license to visit the Emperor of Blefuscu. He sends a letter to Reldresal and, without waiting for an answer, goes to the side of the island where the fleet lies. He seizes a large man-of-war, strips, and puts his clothes and coverlet in it. He then draws the vessel behind him, wading and swimming to the royal port of Blefuscu. Reception in Blefuscu The Emperor of Blefuscu, along with his court, comes out to receive Gulliver. He lies on the ground to kiss their hands. He presents himself as a traveler paying respects, not mentioning his disgrace. The emperor treats him generously, but when the Lilliputian envoy arrives demanding his return, the Blefuscu emperor refuses, citing Gulliver's services and the impossibility of sending him bound. Gulliver, now aware of the dangers of courts, resolves to leave both kingdoms.

Departure from Blefuscu and Return to England

The Homeward Journey Finding the Boat Three days after arriving in Blefuscu, Gulliver spots a real boat overturned in the sea. He obtains the emperor's permission to use it, and with the help of twenty vessels and three thousand seamen, he retrieves the boat. He spends ten days making paddles, then tows the boat to the royal port. The people are amazed at the size of the vessel. Preparing the Boat Gulliver asks for materials to fit up the boat for a voyage home. The emperor, after some expostulation, grants his request. Five hundred workmen make sails from thirteen folds of linen, and Gulliver makes ropes, cables, and an anchor from a great stone. He stocks the boat with a hundred oxen, three hundred sheep, and other provisions, and also takes six live cows and two bulls, as well as ewes and lambs, intending to propagate the breed in England. The Voyage and Rescue On September 24, 1701, Gulliver sets sail. He reaches an uninhabited island, rests, and continues. Two days later, he spies a sail and is taken aboard the English merchantman returning from Japan, commanded by Captain John Biddle. Gulliver shows his cattle and the gold given by the emperor of Blefuscu, convincing the captain of his story. They arrive in the Downs on April 13, 1702. Gulliver profits by showing his cattle and sells them for six hundred pounds. He stays only two months with his family before setting out on his second voyage.

5 November 1699

6 November 1699, at dawn

6 November 1699, later that day

late November 1699 to early December 1699

December 1699

early 1700, after about three months

spring 1700, after about two months of freedom

September 1701, about two months after the fleet capture

24 September 1701 to 13 April 1702