Sometimes I think Gulliver never learns. Having voyaging twice and both times landing on a foreign land and almost getting killed by the natives there, you would think that any one in their right minds would vow to leave home again. I would. I mean almost getting pricked to death by tiny needles and almost having yours eyes gouged out would really put a damper on any future voyages. Not to mention the fact that he almost got trampled on by giants, enslaved, almost killed by a mothering monkey and jealous dwarf. Those would not be things that would make me go “Yes! Let us venture out once more!” But Gulliver being restless as he was’ he took off and this time was left to die out at sea. But then - maybe luckily- spots an island and inhabits it. Then like the rest of his voyages the most unexpected things happen. Gulliver spots a floating island above his own and so he calls out to the people above. They hear him and lower a chain to which they later use to pull him up. And thus is the beginning of Gulliver’s adventure in Laputa.
When Gulliver first sees the island’s inhabitants, he is at first very mystified by their appearances. The Laputians all have their heads tilted to one side, either to the left or right, and have one eye turned inward and the other turned up. They wear clothing adorned with illustrations of celestial masses and musical instruments such as fiddles, flutes, harps, etc. (pg. 82) These people were also quite the daydreamer and had trouble with focusing their thoughts to one particular subject. Their mind digresses so much that there was a need to employ some of them just to tap on the others ears or mouths with sticks with a pouch tied at the end called flappers. Gulliver also comes to learn that the Laputian’s culture is heavily based on mathematics and music. A humorous example would be when Gulliver had his first dinner with them. The first course was a shoulder of mutton that was shaped into an equilateral triangle while the beef was separated into rhombuses and the pudding put in a cycloid shape. The second course had more music inspired dishes than the first. Two ducks were placed as to that they would have a semblance of fiddles, the sausages and pudding were flute-like, and the cut of veil had a strong harp look. Even the bread was divided into mathematical figures.
From my first impression I see Laputa as much more strange or foreign than the other two nations. Lilliput and Brobdingnag had a lot more similarities to our world than I can ever imagine Laputa having. Yes, the Lilliputians were tiny and the Brobdingnagians were huge but their differences from our own come mostly from their physical appearance. And even then the Laputians still in my mind trumps them. Well, because I have seen really small people and really large people as well but maybe not as extreme as those Gulliver encounter but I have never seen anyone who remotely resembles Laputians. And another of the strangest things I’ve ever heard of –other then starting a war over how to break eggs- is there over all culture.
The Laputians are the most far off from “human” so far of any of the characters depicted. They seem to have the focus mainly on math, science, and music leaving little space for anything else to occupy their minds with. And I can’t help but compare them to “aliens”. For one thing they have the Unidentified Flying Object part covered! And it’s just that somehow they feel distant. It’s the way that they are so submerged within their own realm of thinking that they rarely give any thought to other matters. It’s as though nothing matter to them except for what’s currently occupying their minds. They don’t seem to care for very much anything else but for their mathematics and science and music. They are even so clueless of their surroundings that they must actually have people hit them with flappers just so that they won’t unknowingly walk off the edge of the island or run into a ditch. And I absolutely find that humorous yet very ridiculous at the same time. But to say the truth I wouldn’t be able to like them very much. I feel as though they are the type of people who unconsciously ignore everything that’s right in front them. And I wonder if they never care to think of anything else or care for anything else than how do they love? I know that’s corny but I really believe that living a life like would be a waste. They have their entire life to live and yet they don’t care! So how in the world do they even have the ability to let love get in the way of their scientific thinking?!?!?!?!?
The Eye of The World
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Brobdingnag
Gulliver’s travels really always involve the strangest twists. First he had arrived in nation where he was a giant, which meant that every Lilliputian were about one-twelfth his size. And now he is once again washed up ashore in a deserted bizarre new land. Except instead of waking up to minuscule humanoids strapping him down he is almost decapitated by a scythe. A very large one at that! For you see this time Gulliver has found himself in the wondrous new world known as Brobdingnag. When Gulliver had finally had enough of the torment of waiting for a very large foot to come down he had screamed as loudly as he could. One of the giants working in the corn field finally takes note of Gulliver and proceeds to pick him up. Though now Gulliver having “shrunk” and within the presence of giants even the smallest pressure can inflict pain. (pg. 42) This is a very amusing turn of events since now it seems that Gulliver’s position has changed. He was first the once high and mighty giant to the Lilliputians but now he is nothing more than a mere toy to these Brobdingnagians.
Gulliver’s initial stay in Brobdingnag turns out to be a virtually horrid experience. He’s nearly trampled on in the beginning and then later on he is degraded into a lowly position for the greed of one giant. He is made into a nothing less of a “freak” on display for people to jeer at and to be made the object of scorn and ridicule. This goes to prove how much size (and not just physically but also in position) is a matter of importance within Gulliver’s world. When Gulliver had lived within Lilliput his giant size had made him into almost deity-like within the eyes of the Lilliputians. He was rewarded with awe and respectful wonderment whereas within Brobdingnag he is showered with only curious glances for the enjoyment of his spectators. As if he was nothing better than a caged animal useful with only the purpose of making his master rich. Another seemingly ironic situation given that after Gulliver had returned from Lilliput he had smuggled away a few farm animals From Blefuscu to be put on display for the sake of the gold which he could earn for presenting such rare oddities (pg. 40).
Though soon after Gulliver is forced into performing “tricks” to entertain his viewers he begins to seriously fall ill due to the all emotional and physical strain demanded upon him from having to travel and presented so frequently. His health deteriorates to the point that he becomes extremely fragile and thin because of losing so much weight. And yet like with any other toy, the owner only regrets the losing of his fun or prosperity rather than for the object itself. Gulliver’s “master” hardly shows any remorse at being the cause of Gulliver’s ill health. Instead he only regrets losing the money that Gulliver could bring in for him if he were to live much longer and thus determines to use Gulliver to all of his ability before the time of death would occur (pg. 51). And during the whole trial of reading these passages I couldn’t help but feel deep disgust for such a morally-lacking character. I had with all my will for that whole 3 hours greatly detested the cruel treatment of which any “humans” –term used vaguely- would treat another with even if that other person be tiny or insignificant. It reminded me of how selfish one could really be when they do not or can not view another as an equal but as a person of lesser value than their own. That person then could only put themselves ahead of everybody else for which they deemed “unworthy” or basically trash. And that just makes my blood boil by the fact that any person could see some else as insignificantly as did this farmer with Gulliver, and especially with a life at stake. I can’t help but be angered that a life was considered to be of less important that something as trivial as money. (And even though I know that many times reality is much the same as is depicted fictiously albeit a little more exaggerated, I can’t help the fact of wanting to deny that claim. I have already known of numerous of instances where money and maybe even less trivial objects are greatly adored above a life. Take any robbery for example that would have ended fatal. Or any kidnappings. Even war.)
Fortunately though for Gulliver, the queen of Brobdingnag had taken such a fancy with him that she had bought him from the farmer using a thousand gold pieces. And so he comes to live within the palace bringing with him Glumdalclitch who was the farmer’s daughter and one of the few persons to show him compassion during his “enslavement”. The queen grows quite attached to him and but he finds her instead as somewhat repulsive. In fact when he is invited over to the housings of the ladies at the court he often finds them to be unattractive stating that “their skins appeared so coarse and uneven” and he could also hardly bear their stench, “wherewith I was much disgusted because, to say the truth, a very offensive smell came from their skins” (pg. 60). But he also concludes that it was due to his tiny stature that every blemish or imperfection was made vividly acute. He as well notes that if he was in the same proportions as they were he would have found them as lovely as any fine English woman. Although most of his distaste for these ladies are due to the way that they treat him. They treat him as a mere toy, playing with him and using him as a source of amusement. Here I find much of the same problem as I did earlier. There was little to no respect at all for Gulliver. Also the details of how Gulliver finds the ladies of the court to be quite appalling showed how many things that may be perfect to one of the same group- in this case the Brobdingnagians- may not be as attractive to another. He explained that he would have found them as agreeable as any other well pampered ladies if he were to be in the same position as any Brobdingnagian male but he wasn’t and therefore he was able to see more of their flaws then they would have otherwise seen in each other. This kind of explains how one would see another differently than they would see someone of their own. You’re always more quick to see someone else’s flaws when that person is someone unlike you. Mainly because you (unconsciously or not) don’t want to point out someone’s imperfections that you your self may exhibit.
Gulliver’s initial stay in Brobdingnag turns out to be a virtually horrid experience. He’s nearly trampled on in the beginning and then later on he is degraded into a lowly position for the greed of one giant. He is made into a nothing less of a “freak” on display for people to jeer at and to be made the object of scorn and ridicule. This goes to prove how much size (and not just physically but also in position) is a matter of importance within Gulliver’s world. When Gulliver had lived within Lilliput his giant size had made him into almost deity-like within the eyes of the Lilliputians. He was rewarded with awe and respectful wonderment whereas within Brobdingnag he is showered with only curious glances for the enjoyment of his spectators. As if he was nothing better than a caged animal useful with only the purpose of making his master rich. Another seemingly ironic situation given that after Gulliver had returned from Lilliput he had smuggled away a few farm animals From Blefuscu to be put on display for the sake of the gold which he could earn for presenting such rare oddities (pg. 40).
Though soon after Gulliver is forced into performing “tricks” to entertain his viewers he begins to seriously fall ill due to the all emotional and physical strain demanded upon him from having to travel and presented so frequently. His health deteriorates to the point that he becomes extremely fragile and thin because of losing so much weight. And yet like with any other toy, the owner only regrets the losing of his fun or prosperity rather than for the object itself. Gulliver’s “master” hardly shows any remorse at being the cause of Gulliver’s ill health. Instead he only regrets losing the money that Gulliver could bring in for him if he were to live much longer and thus determines to use Gulliver to all of his ability before the time of death would occur (pg. 51). And during the whole trial of reading these passages I couldn’t help but feel deep disgust for such a morally-lacking character. I had with all my will for that whole 3 hours greatly detested the cruel treatment of which any “humans” –term used vaguely- would treat another with even if that other person be tiny or insignificant. It reminded me of how selfish one could really be when they do not or can not view another as an equal but as a person of lesser value than their own. That person then could only put themselves ahead of everybody else for which they deemed “unworthy” or basically trash. And that just makes my blood boil by the fact that any person could see some else as insignificantly as did this farmer with Gulliver, and especially with a life at stake. I can’t help but be angered that a life was considered to be of less important that something as trivial as money. (And even though I know that many times reality is much the same as is depicted fictiously albeit a little more exaggerated, I can’t help the fact of wanting to deny that claim. I have already known of numerous of instances where money and maybe even less trivial objects are greatly adored above a life. Take any robbery for example that would have ended fatal. Or any kidnappings. Even war.)
Fortunately though for Gulliver, the queen of Brobdingnag had taken such a fancy with him that she had bought him from the farmer using a thousand gold pieces. And so he comes to live within the palace bringing with him Glumdalclitch who was the farmer’s daughter and one of the few persons to show him compassion during his “enslavement”. The queen grows quite attached to him and but he finds her instead as somewhat repulsive. In fact when he is invited over to the housings of the ladies at the court he often finds them to be unattractive stating that “their skins appeared so coarse and uneven” and he could also hardly bear their stench, “wherewith I was much disgusted because, to say the truth, a very offensive smell came from their skins” (pg. 60). But he also concludes that it was due to his tiny stature that every blemish or imperfection was made vividly acute. He as well notes that if he was in the same proportions as they were he would have found them as lovely as any fine English woman. Although most of his distaste for these ladies are due to the way that they treat him. They treat him as a mere toy, playing with him and using him as a source of amusement. Here I find much of the same problem as I did earlier. There was little to no respect at all for Gulliver. Also the details of how Gulliver finds the ladies of the court to be quite appalling showed how many things that may be perfect to one of the same group- in this case the Brobdingnagians- may not be as attractive to another. He explained that he would have found them as agreeable as any other well pampered ladies if he were to be in the same position as any Brobdingnagian male but he wasn’t and therefore he was able to see more of their flaws then they would have otherwise seen in each other. This kind of explains how one would see another differently than they would see someone of their own. You’re always more quick to see someone else’s flaws when that person is someone unlike you. Mainly because you (unconsciously or not) don’t want to point out someone’s imperfections that you your self may exhibit.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Lilliput and their traditions
Lilliputians have another thing to add to their resume: being extremely dogged especially to tradition. These people will not give in to anything! I for one find them frustratingly stubborn. For example how they will net get over their differences of heel height! A millimeter or so is not that much of a difference even if it is to an incredibly small human such as the Lilliputians. Also they cannot even negotiate on whether or not which side of an egg they should break first. I think it’s rather easy to say “you crack your egg one way, I’ll do it the other!” and be over with it. Must they not compromise on such a silly tradition and lose thousands of lives in the process?
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Eggs and Heels. Are they really something to wage war over?
As I read Gulliver’s travel more and more, I find that some concepts are amazingly idiotic especially the two conflicts which threaten Lilliput.
First of all is the constant struggle between two parties, Tramecksan and Slamecksan, whose greatest difference is in the height of their heels. Gulliver is told that high heels are more acceptable for Lilliput’s ancient traditions but the King had only employed low heeled Slamecksans for his office. Even his majesty himself chooses to wear low heels. And so that biasness on the king’s part creates tension between these two “radically” different groups. This is where I am completely and utterly stunned at how stubborn or maybe even foolish Lilliputians can be. They will not let go of their one difference in tradition to accept each other and become one unifying group. Somehow it’s quite hard for me to believe how two groups of people can say that they are different from one another just for how high or low their heels are. It’s just mind boggling how possibly less than one millimeter of a difference in height could bring such extremities in the different views of the two groups.(pg 21). For in our society now who really distinguishes themselves from the rest of the world just for their shoes or more specifically their heels? I for one have worn both low heels, high heels, and no heels. Does that make me different from other humans? I exceedingly hope not!
Another conflict that is beyond stupidity for a cause for war is eggs. Yes eggs. I for one have never heard of any cause for hostilities as ridiculous as eggs. Actually it’s not just eggs but the way that one breaks them. Reldresal, a government official who had also explained the Tramecksan and Slamecksan, enlightens Gulliver on the history of the continuous confrontations from Lilliput and Blefuscu which is and island nation that is the other “Great Empire of the Universe” (Pg. 22). Before a large quantity of Lilliputians had revolted against Lilliput, the one singular nation and its inhabitants would always- as tradition allowed them to- break their eggs by the larger end. That was until Lilliput’s current emperor’s grandfather had cut one of his fingers- when he was still a young boy- while breaking the egg by the larger end. Following that, his father, the current emperor’s great-grandfather passed a law that made it illegal for anyone to break their egg by the larger end and must now revert to breaking it by the other end. (This law by itself it completely ridiculous!) But of course, there were some who resented the new law and rebelled. The monarchs of Blefuscu had encouraged these rebellions and when they were over the rebels all flocked over to the other nation to seek freedom for their old egg-breaking tradition. More so, during these hostile times the Blefuscu government had indicted that Lilliput was breaking an aged old religious doctrine of their prophet, Lustrog, which implied that all should break their eggs at the larger end. Though the Lilliputians argued that the doctrine had actually stated “that all true believers break their eggs at the convenient end” and in this case it was the smaller end. And ever since war has raged between these two might nations.
Just as I finished reading those paragraphs I almost bursted out laughing at the sheer ludicrous thoughts. I could in no way believe why eleven thousand people had chose to die rather than just breaking their eggs at the smaller end. Had they really believed in their traditions so seriously that they would risk their life to rebel? If I was in their shoes I would have just broken my egg the way the emperor had decreed. I am in no way suicidal enough to die for some reason I find as ridiculous and unreasonable as this although I might rebel against the fact that there actually was in existence a law that told me how to break my egg. But I would only fight it because it was idiotic. (Why would there need to be a law that tell me how to do that? Can’t I choose the way I want to break my egg? It is my egg after all.) Not because I don’t want to break my egg that way. In truth I really don’t care how I break my egg, I just eat it. Is there really a point to breaking in egg at the smaller end or the larger end?
Afterthought:
After thinking it through I found a deeper meaning in these passages than just an excuse for humor. Even though I have never experienced any conflict due to how I break my eggs or the height of my heels I can still somehow find a way to relate this. I have argued with someone before for a completely ridiculous reason but right then I was utterly serious about it. And I’m pretty sure that this has happened to many other people as well. It’s weird how you can never really understand how ridiculous any situation or reason is until you approach with neutrality and a sense of humor.
First of all is the constant struggle between two parties, Tramecksan and Slamecksan, whose greatest difference is in the height of their heels. Gulliver is told that high heels are more acceptable for Lilliput’s ancient traditions but the King had only employed low heeled Slamecksans for his office. Even his majesty himself chooses to wear low heels. And so that biasness on the king’s part creates tension between these two “radically” different groups. This is where I am completely and utterly stunned at how stubborn or maybe even foolish Lilliputians can be. They will not let go of their one difference in tradition to accept each other and become one unifying group. Somehow it’s quite hard for me to believe how two groups of people can say that they are different from one another just for how high or low their heels are. It’s just mind boggling how possibly less than one millimeter of a difference in height could bring such extremities in the different views of the two groups.(pg 21). For in our society now who really distinguishes themselves from the rest of the world just for their shoes or more specifically their heels? I for one have worn both low heels, high heels, and no heels. Does that make me different from other humans? I exceedingly hope not!
Another conflict that is beyond stupidity for a cause for war is eggs. Yes eggs. I for one have never heard of any cause for hostilities as ridiculous as eggs. Actually it’s not just eggs but the way that one breaks them. Reldresal, a government official who had also explained the Tramecksan and Slamecksan, enlightens Gulliver on the history of the continuous confrontations from Lilliput and Blefuscu which is and island nation that is the other “Great Empire of the Universe” (Pg. 22). Before a large quantity of Lilliputians had revolted against Lilliput, the one singular nation and its inhabitants would always- as tradition allowed them to- break their eggs by the larger end. That was until Lilliput’s current emperor’s grandfather had cut one of his fingers- when he was still a young boy- while breaking the egg by the larger end. Following that, his father, the current emperor’s great-grandfather passed a law that made it illegal for anyone to break their egg by the larger end and must now revert to breaking it by the other end. (This law by itself it completely ridiculous!) But of course, there were some who resented the new law and rebelled. The monarchs of Blefuscu had encouraged these rebellions and when they were over the rebels all flocked over to the other nation to seek freedom for their old egg-breaking tradition. More so, during these hostile times the Blefuscu government had indicted that Lilliput was breaking an aged old religious doctrine of their prophet, Lustrog, which implied that all should break their eggs at the larger end. Though the Lilliputians argued that the doctrine had actually stated “that all true believers break their eggs at the convenient end” and in this case it was the smaller end. And ever since war has raged between these two might nations.
Just as I finished reading those paragraphs I almost bursted out laughing at the sheer ludicrous thoughts. I could in no way believe why eleven thousand people had chose to die rather than just breaking their eggs at the smaller end. Had they really believed in their traditions so seriously that they would risk their life to rebel? If I was in their shoes I would have just broken my egg the way the emperor had decreed. I am in no way suicidal enough to die for some reason I find as ridiculous and unreasonable as this although I might rebel against the fact that there actually was in existence a law that told me how to break my egg. But I would only fight it because it was idiotic. (Why would there need to be a law that tell me how to do that? Can’t I choose the way I want to break my egg? It is my egg after all.) Not because I don’t want to break my egg that way. In truth I really don’t care how I break my egg, I just eat it. Is there really a point to breaking in egg at the smaller end or the larger end?
Afterthought:
After thinking it through I found a deeper meaning in these passages than just an excuse for humor. Even though I have never experienced any conflict due to how I break my eggs or the height of my heels I can still somehow find a way to relate this. I have argued with someone before for a completely ridiculous reason but right then I was utterly serious about it. And I’m pretty sure that this has happened to many other people as well. It’s weird how you can never really understand how ridiculous any situation or reason is until you approach with neutrality and a sense of humor.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Gulliver's Travels- Lilliput
I find that the Lilliputians area quite civilized society. They are not too impertinent as to kill Gulliver when he first arrived in which Gulliver relates as being imprudent if they were to since they would have mostly likely instigate his wrath and that would have allowed him to be free of the bonds in which the used to tie him. But they aren’t so naïve as to immediately free Gulliver with him being so large enough that he could destroy their home if he had wished although they had been hospitable enough to provide Gulliver with a home, food, water, and they even made a bed for him (made from 600 beds brought by horse carriages. 150 were sewn together and stacked 4 high- I find it amazing that they would be willing to go to such lengths for someone who was almost a complete stranger.) Also the Lilliputians are quite pleasant (to me) apart from the few who had gone up to Gulliver and tried to attack him. The officers though put an end to that fairly quickly and even let Gulliver decide their fate, seeing it fit that the one who they attacked would be the one to punish them although Gulliver ended up freeing them instead. And when the council had heard about Gulliver’s good deed they felt gratified to provide him every morning with 6 beeves, 40 sheep, and generous amounts of bread and wine. The emperor even assigned 300 of the best tailors to make Gulliver a new outfit and 6 of his best scholars to teach him of their language. From all of this we can tell that the Lilliputians are those who repay kindness with their own kindness and are not injudicious in their actions (well most of them…) -since them even allowed Gulliver to punish the 6 men who tried to hurt him (they are not biased to their own kind as well). In the end they even let Gulliver free of his bonds as long as he swears to go by their contract.
The Lilliputians culture is rather different from ours now. But their culture could have also been much different from Gulliver’s as well though I’m pretty sure that it was more similar to his than ours. For one thing, the Lilliputians have their whole entire different dialect (they do not know French, Spanish, Latin, Dutch, Italian, or Lingua Franca; Gulliver tried speaking to them in all of these). [Ex. quinbus flestrin= Man- mountain] Their way of dress though I believe is quite similar to Gulliver’s culture since he was able to recognize it as European and Asiatic although I am very sure that it must be much different from what we would consider normal clothes today. Also they have a different way of governing then we have in America, instead of democracy they have a dictatorship but from what I could infer so far in story the emperor does seem to be an agreeable man (he had been the one to award Gulliver for his benevolence toward his harassers). Then another point, their advancement in technology is far from ours and even behind Gulliver’s time. When Gulliver had to be searched by two guards he took out a watch in which they described later described as: “We directed him to draw out whatever was at the end of that chain; which appeared to be a globe, half silver, and half of some transparent metal; for, on the transparent side, we saw certain strange figures circularly drawn, and thought we could touch them, till we found our fingers stopped by the lucid substance. He put this engine into our ears, which made an incessant noise, like that of a water-mill: and we conjecture it is either some unknown animal, or the god that he worships; but we are more inclined to the latter opinion, because he assured us, (if we understood him right, for he expressed himself very imperfectly) that he seldom did any thing without consulting it. He called it his oracle, and said, it pointed out the time for every action of his life.” (pg. 14) Here I could tell that the Lilliputians were probably not very advance in terms of technology since they had not even been able to deduce out time (well, our meaning of time anyway. They even go so far as to think that the clock is Gulliver’s god although I can’t blame since they had probably never seen anything like that before which means they had now prior knowledge whatsoever to expect of this contraption). But make no mistake; they are extremely capable in the areas of math since they had been able to figure out that Gulliver eats about the equivalent of 1724 Lilliputians by figuring that Gulliver was 12 to 1 in proportion of his body to theirs. And so by that similarity that his body must contain 1724 of their which means he would need 1724 times the amount of food to sustain him. (I couldn’t really follow how they got the number 1724 by a ratio of 12 to 1 though. But Gulliver had stated that they were ingenious when it came to that and for now I’ll take his words on it since I still don’t know enough about his character to deduce correctly if he is lying or not. Besides he gave me no reason so far to suspect he is lying and if we can’t trust him then what can we trust about the story anyway?)
[And for some reason Lilliput reminds of the Romans. I don’t really know why but I always picture them parallel to the Romans. I think that it’s perhaps mostly because of the Emperor. Instead of calling him the king, monarch, etc. he is called by emperor which is very reminiscent of the Romans (to me anyway). Also the Lilliputians are quite well off given that they are able to afford Gulliver’s diet which by their calculations would be 1724 times theirs. That “superior” form of economy is very similar to the Romans who at one time was the wealthiest empire in the world. ]
The Lilliputians culture is rather different from ours now. But their culture could have also been much different from Gulliver’s as well though I’m pretty sure that it was more similar to his than ours. For one thing, the Lilliputians have their whole entire different dialect (they do not know French, Spanish, Latin, Dutch, Italian, or Lingua Franca; Gulliver tried speaking to them in all of these). [Ex. quinbus flestrin= Man- mountain] Their way of dress though I believe is quite similar to Gulliver’s culture since he was able to recognize it as European and Asiatic although I am very sure that it must be much different from what we would consider normal clothes today. Also they have a different way of governing then we have in America, instead of democracy they have a dictatorship but from what I could infer so far in story the emperor does seem to be an agreeable man (he had been the one to award Gulliver for his benevolence toward his harassers). Then another point, their advancement in technology is far from ours and even behind Gulliver’s time. When Gulliver had to be searched by two guards he took out a watch in which they described later described as: “We directed him to draw out whatever was at the end of that chain; which appeared to be a globe, half silver, and half of some transparent metal; for, on the transparent side, we saw certain strange figures circularly drawn, and thought we could touch them, till we found our fingers stopped by the lucid substance. He put this engine into our ears, which made an incessant noise, like that of a water-mill: and we conjecture it is either some unknown animal, or the god that he worships; but we are more inclined to the latter opinion, because he assured us, (if we understood him right, for he expressed himself very imperfectly) that he seldom did any thing without consulting it. He called it his oracle, and said, it pointed out the time for every action of his life.” (pg. 14) Here I could tell that the Lilliputians were probably not very advance in terms of technology since they had not even been able to deduce out time (well, our meaning of time anyway. They even go so far as to think that the clock is Gulliver’s god although I can’t blame since they had probably never seen anything like that before which means they had now prior knowledge whatsoever to expect of this contraption). But make no mistake; they are extremely capable in the areas of math since they had been able to figure out that Gulliver eats about the equivalent of 1724 Lilliputians by figuring that Gulliver was 12 to 1 in proportion of his body to theirs. And so by that similarity that his body must contain 1724 of their which means he would need 1724 times the amount of food to sustain him. (I couldn’t really follow how they got the number 1724 by a ratio of 12 to 1 though. But Gulliver had stated that they were ingenious when it came to that and for now I’ll take his words on it since I still don’t know enough about his character to deduce correctly if he is lying or not. Besides he gave me no reason so far to suspect he is lying and if we can’t trust him then what can we trust about the story anyway?)
[And for some reason Lilliput reminds of the Romans. I don’t really know why but I always picture them parallel to the Romans. I think that it’s perhaps mostly because of the Emperor. Instead of calling him the king, monarch, etc. he is called by emperor which is very reminiscent of the Romans (to me anyway). Also the Lilliputians are quite well off given that they are able to afford Gulliver’s diet which by their calculations would be 1724 times theirs. That “superior” form of economy is very similar to the Romans who at one time was the wealthiest empire in the world. ]
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