Lilliputian’s physical appearance is not just a symbol of pettiness but of emptiness. They are no more than six inches tall and that represents not only their height but the small mind they have and so the few knowledge they can acquire.
A comparison between Gulliver’s height and the Lilliputians’ is established all the way through in the first book, but not just from a physical perspective but from a psychological one. That is to say, while the reader can see Gulliver as a very active and voluntary character, the Lilliputians are seen as hypocrite people and as human beings with malice. It is easily observed when they attacked Gulliver with arrows at first sight. However, Gulliver helps them in their war with the Blefuscudians by landing all their boats and forcing them to surrender. The Lilliputians are tiny compared to Gulliver and that is what makes the latter more capable than the former. Gulliver asserts that they were intelligent once and as a matter of fact they speak quite a number of languages, but their current ignorance leads them to be corrupt. Therefore, they are no longer wise people. Together with the war scene there are several situations in which Gulliver’s effort on being a powerful and useful character is represented. For instance, when Gulliver is asked to get rid of his belongings, the Lilliputians’ ignorance is clearly observed. The do not know what a watch is and they keep looking at it wondering how was it made and what is it used for. Finally, another example is how the effort that the Lilliputians do to extinguish the empress’ apartment fire is vanished after being blown out by merely Gulliver’s urination.
With these opposite behaviors Gulliver wants to contrast the non-effectiveness of many government officers, represented by the Lilliputians, with a humble position of a perfect ruler on behalf of Gulliver in this narrative.
Jan, K.M. Perspectives on Gulliver’s Travels. Atlantis Publishers and Distributors, 2004.
