Gulliver's Travels

how would you describe the nation, the emperor and the people of lililput after reading the 3 chapter?

part 1 chapter 3 of gulliver travels

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By describing a society that chooses its highest officials with silly competitions like seeing who can jump the highest on a tight-rope, Swift is poking fun at the way officials are chosen in England. He is also commenting on the disturbing trend of politicians who are willing to do whatever it takes to gain favor in the court-including humiliating themselves. The danger of ambition is also figured here; jumping badly can lead to death.

Having Gulliver stand with his legs apart so that the Lilliputian armies can walk through is also a ridiculous idea. It is a comment on the pomp and circumstance of English armies. To Swift it seems that armies are often more concerned with looking impressive than with being impressive. This scene might also be an allusion to the Colossus of Rhodes, described in Julius Caesar by Shakespeare as a larger-than-life figure that men could walk through the legs of. Check out Chapter 3 in the GradeSaver link below. It describes just how ridiculous (satirical) the society is.

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http://www.gradesaver.com/gullivers-travels/study-guide/section2/