Swift adventures of gulliver summary. Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels (retelling for children). Other retellings and reviews for the reader's diary

Travels to some distant countries of the world by Lemuel Gulliver, first a surgeon, and then the captain of several ships.

“Gulliver's Travels” is a work written at the intersection of genres: it is also a fascinating, purely novelistic narrative, a travel novel (by no means, however, “sentimental”, which Lawrence Sterne would describe in 1768); it is a pamphlet novel and at the same time a novel that bears distinct features of a dystopia - a genre that we used to believe belongs exclusively to the literature of the 20th century; this is a novel with equally pronounced elements of fantasy, and the rampage of Swift's imagination truly knows no limits.

Being a dystopian novel, it is a novel in the full sense of the word utopian too, especially its last part. And finally, undoubtedly, one should pay attention to the most important thing - this is a prophetic novel, because, reading and re-reading it today, perfectly aware of the undoubted specificity of the addressees of Swift's merciless, caustic, murderous satire, you think about this specificity last. Because everything that his hero encounters in the course of his wanderings, his kind of Odysseus, all manifestations of human, let's say, oddities - those that grow into "oddities" that have both a national and supranational character, a global character - all this not only did not die along with those against whom Swift addressed his pamphlet, did not go into oblivion, but, alas, is striking in its relevance. And therefore - the amazing prophetic gift of the author, his ability to capture and recreate what belongs to human nature, and therefore has a character, so to speak, enduring.

There are four parts in Swift's book: his hero makes four journeys, the total duration of which in time is sixteen years and seven months. Leaving, or rather, sailing, each time from a very specific port city that really exists on any map, he suddenly finds himself in some outlandish countries, getting acquainted with those customs, lifestyle, way of life, laws and traditions that are in use there, and talking about his country, about England. And the first such "stop" for Swift's hero is the land of Lilliput. But first, two words about the hero himself. In Gulliver, some of the features of his creator, his thoughts, his ideas, a kind of “self-portrait” merged together, but the wisdom of the Swift hero (or, more precisely, his sanity in that fantastically absurd world that he describes every time with an inimitably serious, imperturbable mine) combined with the "simplicity" of Voltaire's Huron. It is this innocence, this strange naivety that allows Gulliver to grasp so sharply (that is, so inquisitively, so accurately) every time he finds himself in a wild and foreign country, the most important thing. At the same time, a certain detachment is always felt in the very intonation of his narration, a calm, unhurried, unfussy irony. As if he is not talking about his own “going through the torment”, but looks at everything that happens, as it were, from a temporary distance, and quite a considerable one at that. In a word, sometimes there is a feeling that this is our contemporary, some genius writer unknown to us is leading his story. Laughing at us, at himself, at human nature and human mores, which he sees as invariable. Swift is also a modern writer because the novel he wrote seems to belong to literature, which in the 20th century, and in the second half of it, was called “absurd literature”, but in fact its true roots, its beginning are here, at Swift, and sometimes in this sense a writer who lived two and a half centuries ago, can give a hundred points ahead of modern classics - precisely as a writer who subtly owns all the techniques of absurd writing.

So, the first "stop" for Swift's hero is the country of Lilliput, where very small people live. Already in this first part of the novel, as well as in all subsequent ones, the author’s ability to convey, from a psychological point of view, absolutely accurately and reliably, the feeling of a person who is among people (or creatures) who are not like him, to convey his feeling of loneliness, abandonment and inner lack of freedom, constraint precisely by what is around - all the others and everything else.

In that detailed, unhurried tone with which Gulliver tells about all the absurdities, absurdities that he encounters when he gets to the country of Lilliput, an amazing, exquisitely hidden humor is evident.

At first, these strange, incredibly small people (respectively, just as miniature and everything that surrounds them) meet the Mountain Man (as they call Gulliver) quite friendly: they provide him with housing, special laws are adopted that somehow streamline his communication with the locals. residents, in order for it to proceed equally harmoniously and safely for both sides, provide it with food, which is not easy, because the diet of an intruder is grandiose in comparison with their own (it is equal to the diet of 1728 Lilliputians!). The emperor himself talks affably with him, after Gulliver provided him and his entire state with help (he walks out into the strait that separates Lilliputia from the neighboring and hostile state of Blefuscu, and drags the entire Blefuskan fleet on a rope), he is granted the title of backgammon, the highest title in state. Gulliver is introduced to the customs of the country: what, for example, are the exercises of rope dancers, which serve as a way to get a vacant position at court (is it not from here that the most inventive Tom Stoppard borrowed the idea of ​​​​his play "Jumpers", or, in other words, "Acrobats"?). Description of the "ceremonial march" ... between the legs of Gulliver (another "entertainment"), the rite of passage, which he takes an oath of allegiance to the state of Lilliput; its text, which draws special attention to the first part, which lists the titles of "the most powerful emperor, joy and horror of the universe" - all this is inimitable! Especially when you consider the disproportion of this midget - and all those epithets that accompany his name.

Further, Gulliver is initiated into the political system of the country: it turns out that in Lilliput there are two “warring parties known as the Tremeksenov and Slemeksenov”, differing from each other only in that the supporters of one are adherents of ... low heels, and the other - high, and between them, on this, undoubtedly very significant, ground, “the most severe strife” takes place: “they say that high heels are most consistent with ... the ancient state system” of Lilliput, but the emperor “decided that in government institutions ... only low heels..." Well, why not the reforms of Peter the Great, disputes regarding the impact of which on the further “Russian path” do not subside to this day! Even more significant circumstances brought to life a "fierce war" waged between "two great empires" - Lilliputia and Blefuscu: from which side to break eggs - from a blunt end or quite the opposite, from a sharp one. Well, of course, Swift is talking about contemporary England, divided into Tory and Whig supporters - but their opposition has sunk into oblivion, becoming part of history, but the wonderful allegory-allegory invented by Swift is alive. For it is not a matter of Whigs and Tories: no matter how specific parties are called in a specific country in a specific historical era- Swift's allegory turns out to be "for all time". And it's not about allusions - the writer guessed the principle on which everything has been built, is being built and will be built from time immemorial.

Although, by the way, Swift's allegories, of course, belonged to the country and the era in which he lived and the political underside of which he had the opportunity to learn first-hand from his own experience. And therefore, behind Liliputia and Blefusku, which the emperor of Liliputia, after the withdrawal of the ships of the Blefuscans by Gulliver, “conceived ... to turn it into his own province and rule it through his governor”, ​​the relations between England and Ireland, which also by no means departed into the realm of legends, are read without much difficulty, to this day, painful and disastrous for both countries.

I must say that not only the situations described by Swift, human weaknesses and state foundations amaze with their today's sound, but even many purely textual passages. You can quote them endlessly. Well, for example: “The language of the Blefuskans is as different from the language of the Lilliputians as the languages ​​of the two European peoples differ from each other. At the same time, each of the nations is proud of the antiquity, beauty and expressiveness of its language. And our emperor, taking advantage of his position created by the capture of the enemy fleet, obliged the embassy [of the Blefuscans] to present credentials and negotiate in the Lilliputian language. Associations - clearly unplanned by Swift (however, who knows?) - arise by themselves ...

Although, where Gulliver proceeds to present the foundations of the legislation of Lilliput, we already hear the voice of Swift - a utopian and idealist; these Lilliputian laws that put morality above mental virtues; laws that consider denunciation and fraud as crimes much more serious than theft, and many others are clearly dear to the author of the novel. As well as the law, which makes ingratitude a criminal offence; this latter was especially affected by the utopian dreams of Swift, who knew well the price of ingratitude - both on a personal and state scale.

However, not all of the emperor's advisers share his enthusiasm for the Man of the Mountain, and many do not like the exaltation (both figuratively and literally). The indictment that these people organize turns all the good deeds granted by Gulliver into crimes. "Enemies" demand death, and methods are offered one more terrible than the other. And only the chief secretary for secret affairs, Reldresel, known as Gulliver's "true friend", turns out to be truly humane: his proposal boils down to the fact that it is enough for Gulliver to gouge out both eyes; “Such a measure, while satisfying to some extent justice, at the same time will delight the whole world, which will welcome as much the meekness of the monarch as the nobility and generosity of those who have the honor to be his advisers.” In reality, (state interests are, after all, above all!) "The loss of eyes will not cause any damage to [Gulliver's] physical strength, thanks to which [he] can still be useful to His Majesty." Swift's sarcasm is inimitable - but hyperbole, exaggeration, allegory are absolutely at the same time correlated with reality. Such "fantastic realism" of the beginning of the 18th century...

Or here’s another example of Swift’s providences: “Lilliputians have a custom established by the current emperor and his ministers (very different ... from what was practiced in former times): if, for the sake of the monarch’s vindictiveness or the malice of a favorite, the court sentences someone to cruel punishment, then the emperor delivers a speech in a meeting of the state council, depicting his great mercy and kindness as qualities known to all and recognized by all. The speech is immediately resounded throughout the empire; and nothing terrifies the people so much as these panegyrics to imperial mercy; for it has been established that the more extensive and eloquent they are, the more inhuman the punishment and the more innocent the victim. That's right, but what does Lilliput have to do with it? - any reader will ask. And in fact - what's the point?..

After fleeing to Blefuscu (where history repeats itself with depressing uniformity, that is, everyone is happy for the Man of Grief, but no less happy to get rid of him as soon as possible) Gulliver sets sail on the boat he built and ... accidentally meeting an English merchant ship, safely returns to his native land . He brings with him miniature lambs, which after a few years have bred so much that, as Gulliver says, “I hope that they will bring significant benefits to the cloth industry” (Swift’s undoubted “reference” to his own “Letters of the Clothmaker” - his pamphlet, published in light in 1724).

The second strange state, where the restless Gulliver finds himself, is Brobdingnag - the state of giants, where Gulliver already turns out to be a kind of midget. Every time Swift's hero seems to fall into a different reality, as if into a kind of "through the looking glass", and this transition takes place in a matter of days and hours: reality and unreality are located very close, you just need to want to...

Gulliver and the local population, in comparison with the previous story, seem to change roles, and the treatment of local residents with Gulliver this time exactly corresponds to how Gulliver himself behaved with the Lilliputians, in all the details and details that are so masterful, one might say, lovingly describes, even subscribes to Swift. On the example of his hero, he demonstrates an amazing property of human nature: the ability to adapt (in the best, "Robinsonian" sense of the word) to any circumstances, to any life situation, the most fantastic, the most incredible - a property that all those mythological, fictional creatures, a guest, are deprived of. which turns out to be Gulliver.

And Gulliver comprehends one more thing, knowing his fantastic world: the relativity of all our ideas about it. Swift's hero is characterized by the ability to accept "proposed circumstances", the very "tolerance" that another great educator, Voltaire, stood up for several decades earlier.

In this country, where Gulliver turns out to be even more (or rather, less) than just a dwarf, he undergoes many adventures, eventually getting back to the royal court, becoming the favorite companion of the king himself. In one of the conversations with His Majesty, Gulliver tells him about his country - these stories will be repeated more than once on the pages of the novel, and every time Gulliver's interlocutors will again and again be amazed at what he will tell them about, presenting the laws and customs of his own country as something quite familiar and normal. And for his inexperienced interlocutors (Swift brilliantly portrays this "innocent naivety of misunderstanding" of them!) All Gulliver's stories will seem boundless absurdity, nonsense, sometimes just fiction, lies. At the end of the conversation, Gulliver (or Swift) drew a line: “My brief historical outline of our country over the past century plunged the king into extreme amazement. He announced that, in his opinion, this story is nothing but a bunch of conspiracies, troubles, murders, beatings, revolutions and deportations, which are the worst results of greed, partisanship, hypocrisy, perfidy, cruelty, rabies, madness, hatred, envy voluptuousness, malice and ambition." Shine!

Even greater sarcasm sounds in the words of Gulliver himself: “... I had to calmly and patiently listen to this insulting treatment of my noble and dearly beloved fatherland ... But you can’t be too demanding of the king, who is completely cut off from the rest of the world and, as a result, is in complete ignorance of the mores and customs of other peoples. Such ignorance always gives rise to a certain narrowness of thought and a lot of prejudices, which we, like other enlightened Europeans, are completely alien to. And in fact - alien, completely alien! Swift's mockery is so obvious, the allegory is so transparent, and our naturally occurring thoughts on this matter today are so understandable that it is not even worth commenting on them.

Just as remarkable is the “naive” judgment of the king about politics: the poor king, it turns out, did not know its basic and fundamental principle: “everything is permitted” - due to his “excessive unnecessary scrupulousness”. Bad politician!

And yet, Gulliver, being in the company of such an enlightened monarch, could not help but feel all the humiliation of his position - a midget among the giants - and his, ultimately, lack of freedom. And he again rushes home, to his relatives, to his country, so unfairly and imperfectly arranged. And when he gets home, he cannot adapt for a long time: his own seems ... too small. Used to!

In part of the third book, Gulliver first finds himself on the flying island of Laputa. And again, everything that he observes and describes is the height of absurdity, while the author's intonation of Gulliver-Swift is still imperturbably meaningful, full of undisguised irony and sarcasm. And again, everything is recognizable: both trifles of a purely everyday nature, such as the “addiction to news and politics” inherent in the Laputians, and the fear that always lives in their minds, as a result of which “the Laputians are constantly in such anxiety that they cannot sleep peacefully in their beds nor enjoy the ordinary pleasures and pleasures of life." The visible embodiment of absurdity as the basis of life on the island is flappers, whose purpose is to force listeners (interlocutors) to focus their attention on what they are currently being told about. But there are allegories of a larger nature in this part of Swift's book: concerning rulers and power, and how to influence "recalcitrant subjects", and much more. And when Gulliver descends from the island to the “continent” and gets into its capital, the city of Lagado, he will be shocked by the combination of boundless ruin and poverty, which will catch the eye everywhere, and peculiar oases of order and prosperity: it turns out that these oases are all that is left of past, normal life. And then some “projectors” appeared who, having visited the island (that is, in our opinion, abroad) and “returning to earth ... were imbued with contempt for all ... institutions and began to draw up projects for the re-creation of science, art, laws , language and technology in a new way". First, the Academy of projectors appeared in the capital, and then in all cities of the country of any significance. The description of Gulliver's visit to the Academy, his conversations with pundits knows no equal in terms of the degree of sarcasm, combined with contempt - contempt, first of all, for those who allow themselves to be fooled and led by the nose like that ... And linguistic improvements! And the school of political projectors!

Tired of all these miracles, Gulliver decided to sail to England, but for some reason, on his way home, first the island of Glubbdobdrib, and then the kingdom of Luggnagg, turned out to be. I must say that as Gulliver moves from one outlandish country to another, Swift's fantasy becomes more and more violent, and his contemptuous poisonousness becomes more and more merciless. This is how he describes the manners at the court of King Luggnagg.

And in the fourth, final part of the novel, Gulliver finds himself in the country of the Houyhnhnms. Houigngnms are horses, but it is in them that Gulliver finally finds quite human features - that is, those features that Swift would probably like to observe in people. And in the service of the Houyhnhnms live evil and vile creatures - Yahoo, like two drops of water similar to a person, only deprived of the cover of civility (both figuratively and literally), and therefore appearing to be disgusting creatures, real savages next to well-bred, highly moral, respectable horses-Huyhnhnms, where both honor, and nobility, and dignity, and modesty, and the habit of abstinence are alive ...

Once again, Gulliver tells about his country, about its customs, mores, political system, traditions - and once again, more precisely, more than ever, his story is met by his listener-interlocutor, first with distrust, then - bewilderment, then - indignation: how can one live so inconsistently with the laws of nature? So unnatural to human nature - this is the pathos of misunderstanding on the part of the horse-guyhnhnma. The structure of their community is the version of utopia that Swift allowed himself in the finale of his pamphlet novel: the old writer, who has lost faith in human nature, with unexpected naivety almost sings of primitive joys, a return to nature - something very reminiscent of Voltaire's "Innocent" . But Swift was not "simple-hearted," and that is why his utopia looks utopian even to himself. And this is manifested primarily in the fact that it is these pretty and respectable Houyhnhnms who expel from their "herd" the "stranger" who has crept into it - Gulliver. For he is too similar to Yahoo, and they don’t care that Gulliver’s resemblance to these creatures is only in the structure of the body and nothing more. No, they decide, as soon as he is a Yahoo, then he should live next to the Yahoo, and not among "decent people", that is, horses. The utopia did not work out, and Gulliver dreamed in vain of spending the rest of his days among these kind animals he liked. The idea of ​​tolerance turns out to be alien even to them. And therefore, the general assembly of the Houyhnhnms, in Swift's description reminiscent of his scholarship, well, almost the Platonic Academy, accepts the "admonition" - to expel Gulliver as belonging to the Yahoo breed. And our hero completes his wanderings, once again returning home, "retiring to his garden in Redrif to enjoy reflections, to put into practice the excellent lessons of virtue ...".

Journey to Lilliput

Gulliver's father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire. He had 5 sons. Gulliver is the third among them. He studied at Cambridge very diligently, but the cost of education for his father, a poor husband, was too much of a burden, and after three years his son had to drop out and go to science in a London surgeon. From time to time his father would send some money to his son, and he would spend it on studying navigation and mathematics, because it is useful for those who decide to travel. He thought that sooner or later such a fate would be presented to him.

Gulliver soon moved to Leiden, where he carefully studied medicine. Returning home, he was hired as a doctor on the ship "Swallow". He served there for three years, constantly traveling. Arriving in England, he settled in London, rented part of a small house and married Mary Burton, the second daughter of a shop owner.

But two years later, Gulliver's medical practice began to move, and, after consulting with his wife, he decided to go to sea again. For six years he worked as a doctor on two ships, visited India and the West Indies, looked closely at the customs of people and studied foreign languages.

The last trip was not very happy, and he decided to settle down at home, with his wife and children. Waited three years for things to get better, but in the end

On May 4, 1699, he sailed from Bristol on the Antelope. But already on November 5, a squall smashed the ship against a rock.

Gulliver swam at random. Finally, extremely exhausted, he felt the ground under his feet. But after walking for a mile, I did not come across any signs of habitation or people anywhere. Terribly tired, he fell asleep soundly for a whole 9 hours.

During the day he wanted to get up, but could not even move: his arms, legs and long hair were tied to the ground. The whole body was entangled with thin ropes. Gulliver could only look up, and the sun blinded him. There was some noise all around. Soon that living thing was on his chest. He was a little man about six inches tall, with a bow and arrow in his hands and a quiver over his shoulders. Behind him moved from fifty of the same little men. Gulliver exclaimed in surprise - and they scattered in fright. But soon they returned, and one of them decided to stand before the very face of Gulliver and shouted: “Gekina degul! But Gulliver did not understand anything.

Finally, after much effort, the giant was lucky to break the ropes and extract from the ground the pegs that were the tied left hand. At that very moment, he felt that a hundred arrows, prickly as needles, had dug into him. Some little men tried to stab in the sides with spears. Fortunately, they could not pierce the buffalo leather jacket. Noticing that Gulliver was moving, the little men stopped shooting. Turning his head, the giant saw a platform about a foot and a half high with two or three ladders. From this regiment, one of the little men, apparently what an important person, turned to Gulliver, then they cut the ropes with which the head was tied. The speaker was middle-aged and appeared to be taller than the three who accompanied him.

Gulliver was almost dying of hunger, because he ate for the last time a few hours before he left the ship. He signaled for food. Gurgo (the nobleman had such a title) understood him. Soon hundreds of Lilliputian natives were already bringing him food. Then Gulliver gave a sign that he was thirsty, and three barrels were rolled up to him, each containing half a pint of light wine.

A little later, a respectable official, an envoy of imperial majesty, appeared before Gulliver. The State Council decided to transport the giant to the capital. Gulliver was to be taken there as a prisoner. The giant was inclined to sleep, he slept for a long time, because sleeping potions were poured into the barrels of wine.

Lilliputians are outstanding mathematicians and achieved personal success in mechanics thanks to the support and encouragement of the emperor. 500 carpenters and engineers built a huge cart for Gulliver. But the greatest difficulty was to lift it and put it on the platform. To do this, the natives dug 80 pillars one foot high, they tied strong ropes (no thicker than twine) with hooks at the ends, and they were touched by the ropes that wrapped around the neck, arms, legs and torso of the giant. 900 strong men pulled the ropes, and three hours later Gulliver was already lying on the platform, tightly tied to it. During this operation he slept deeply. 1500 strongest horses were pulled half a mile from the place where Gulliver lay.

On the square where the cart stopped, there was an ancient temple, which was considered the most in the whole state. It was used for various public purposes. Gulliver was destined for his housing. But he could barely get through. The giant was planted on 91 chains the size of a chain on a lady's watch. But Gulliver was convinced that he could not break it, and was upset.

The landscape was pleasant. The whole area seemed like a solid garden. On the left, Gulliver saw a city resembling a theatrical scenery.

The emperor had already descended from the tower and was approaching Gulliver on horseback. By doing this, he put himself in danger. By his order, food and drinks were brought to the giant. The emperor was almost a whole nail taller than all the courtiers. His Majesty repeatedly turned to Gulliver, but he did not understand him. When the emperor returned to the city, guards were assigned to the giant, who had to protect him from the crowd. For if he was sitting at the door of his dwelling, some decided to shoot, and one arrow almost hit him in the left eye. The colonel from the guard decided that the greatest punishment would be to give Gulliver's brawlers. And he, having received a knife, crossed the ropes with which the prisoners were bound, and let them go. It made a good impression.

At night, Gulliver had to climb into the room and go to bed right on the ground. Two weeks later, by order of the emperor, a bed was made: 600 mattresses of the usual size were brought on carts.

When the arrival of Gulliver became known throughout the country, all the natives came to see him. “The villages were almost completely deserted, and if the emperor had not issued special orders and orders, Agriculture the country would be in a great decline.”

Meanwhile, the emperor repeatedly convened a state council, where they discussed the question of the future fate of Gulliver. It was very expensive to keep him. It could even lead to famine in the country. More than once at court, they were inclined to think of starving Gulliver to death or covering his face and hands with poisoned arrows, from which you can quickly die. But such a huge corpse, rotting, would cause various furrows, which would subsequently spread throughout the country.

When two officers reported to the emperor about the incident with the hooligans, he immediately issued a decree obliging all villages within 900 yards from the capital to supply cows, sheep and other livestock for Gulliver in the morning, along with the appropriate amount of bread, wine and various drinks. 600 people were assigned to serve. The scientists were instructed to teach the giant their language, and soon he was able to explain himself to the emperor. The first thing he asked for was a will. The emperor replied that everything has its time. However, he promised that they would behave well with Gulliver, but they would search it, because the weapon, if it corresponds to such big man must be very dangerous. Gulliver agreed and put the two officials who would conduct the search in his pocket. Two pockets were not searched, since Gulliver states there are things that only he needs. Officials compiled a detailed list of what they found. When it was read to the emperor, the first thing he demanded was that the giant unsheath his saber and pistol. Gulliver warned the emperor not to be frightened and fired into the air. It made an impression much more than a saber. Thus Gulliver remained a weapon. He also gave away a watch, as well as coins, a folding knife, a razor, a snuff box, a handkerchief and a notebook.

The natives gradually ceased to be afraid of Gulliver. He learned their language well and could already talk to them. Once the emperor had the idea to please the giant with the spectacle of the games there. The rope dancers entertained him the most. “Only candidates for some high position or those who want to prevent great favor at court participate in this game.” “When someone, either dying or falling into disgrace (which happens quite often), vacates the position, then five or six candidates ask the emperor for permission to entertain him and the court by dancing on a tightrope, and whoever jumps faster and does not fall, gets a job."

They had another entertainment: the emperor puts three silk threads (blue, red, green) on the table, they are awarded to those whom he wants to define with special caress. Applicants must crawl under the horizontal stick or jump over it, depending on whether the emperor raises or lowers it. Whoever performs all the pieces longer and with the greatest speed, then receives a thread as a reward, wears instead of a belt.

Two or three days before Gulliver's dismissal, a messenger arrived to His Majesty with the message that they had found a strange thing on the shore, which probably refers to the Gori Man. Gulliver was delighted, he realized that it was his hat.

Two days later, the emperor came up with an original entertainment for himself: ordering Gulliver to become like the colossus of Rhodes, spread his legs, and lined up an army under him and led a ceremonial march. 3,000 infantry and 1,000 horsemen took part in the parade.

Finally, his majesty raised the issue of granting freedom by Gulliver in the cabinet, but Skyresh Bolgolam, one of the officials, why became the giant's mortal enemy and objected to this. Forced to agree with the majority of ministers, he drew up the text of the conditions under which Gulliver was to be released. Gulliver had no right to leave possessions without official permission. He will not enter the capital without warning the inhabitants two hours in advance, he will not lie down in the meadows and fields. He has no right to take Lilliputians in his arms without their consent. If the need arises, then Gulliver should be an accomplice in the fight against the hostile island of Blefuscu, should help in the construction of imperial buildings and deliver urgent orders. This document was read by Gulliver and then the chains were solemnly removed from him.

Having received freedom, Gulliver asked permission to inspect Mildendo, the capital of Lilliput. He moved very cautiously.

The Imperial Palace stood in the center of the capital, at the crossroads of two main streets. Gulliver really wanted to see the chambers of the emperor, but for this he needed chairs built from the largest trees in the park. Then he saw the nirozkishn chambers that one can only imagine. They had an empress and young princes surrounded by retinue. Her Imperial Majesty smiled at Gulliver and affectionately stretched her hand out the window for a kiss.

One morning Feldresel, the chief secretary in secret affairs, came to the Man of the Mountain. He told Gulliver that 70 months ago two warring parties formed in the empire, known as Tremexeniv and Slemekseniv, from high and low heels on shoes, how they differ from each other. His Majesty ordered that government positions be granted only to those who wear low heels.

The hatred between the two parties has reached such a point that the members of one will neither eat nor drink at the table, nor talk with members of the other.

But the Tremexens, or High Heels, predominate in number. All power is still in the hands of the emperor, but the successor to the throne sympathizes with high heels. In any case, one of his heels is higher than the other. And in the midst of these civil strife, an attack by an army from Blefuscu, the second great power of the world, is also threatened, almost as large as Lilliput. For 36 months, these states have been in a state of fierce war, and for this reason.

Lilliputians broke eggs before eating them from the blunt end. However, when his majesty's grandfather broke an egg in this way and cut off his finger, a decree was issued that all subjects should break eggs only from the sharp end. The Blefuscu monarchs always incited the people of Lilliput to revolt, and when the revolts were suppressed, they gave shelter to the exiles. Hundreds of volumes have been published on this controversy. The Blefuscu emperors repeatedly filed protests, accusing the Lilliputian government of a religious schism and violation of the main dogma of the great prophet Lastrog. But in Al-Qur'an, the book of books, it is written: "Let all true believers break eggs from the end which is more convenient." And this is decided by the supreme judge of the empire. From this conflict began a bloody war. The enemy has built a large fleet and is preparing to land on the coast of Lilliput. The emperor wanted Gul-liver to support him in the war. But he did not consider it necessary to intervene in party strife, but he is ready to give his life, protecting his highness and the great power of Lilliput from enemy invasion.

Blefuscu Empire is an island northeast of Lilliput. Upon learning of the attack, Gulliver avoided showing up on the shore. Blefuscu knew nothing about him. He questioned the best-witted sailors about the depth of the strait. The giant went to the northeast coast, from where Blefusca was visible, lay down behind a hillock and saw from fifty high ships and a large force of transports anchored. Gulliver ordered to attach a roll of a strong rope and a lot of iron bars. The rope was as thick as our rope, and the bars were like a twig for weaving. The giant wove the rope three times, for the same purpose twisted three iron rods together, bending the end with hooks. I attached 50 hooks to 50 ropes and headed for the northeast coast. Half an hour before the influx, in the leather jacket itself, he entered the water, taking off his camisole, collars and stockings. In less than half an hour Gulliver came to the fleet. Seeing him, the enemies were so frightened that they jumped into the sea and swam to the shore, where at least 30 thousand of them gathered. Then Gulliver took his gun, poking the hooks for the holes that were in the bow of each ship, and tied the ropes from them together. While the giant was fiddling with it, the enemies fired thousands of arrows. He was more afraid for his eyes. Suddenly he remembered the glasses - they were not noticed by the imperial caretakers during the search. Many arrows hit the lenses of the glasses, but did not cause them much harm. Then Gulliver decisively cut the anchor ropes, then, taking the ropes tied together with hooks, it was easy to train 50 of the largest enemy warships.

The Blefuskians were dumbfounded. Noticing that the entire fleet was sailing after Gulliver, they removed a terrible cry. And the giant, safe and sound, arrived with his prey to the royal port of Lilliput.

The emperor and his entire court almost lost heart when they saw the enemy fleet quickly approaching them. But soon the fears were dispelled, for with every step the strait was milishal and Gulliver was already visible. For this feat, he was awarded the title of nardak - the highest honorary award in the empire.

The ambition of monarchs has no limits, and the emperor expressed his desire that Gulliver find an opportunity and bring the rest of the enemy ships to his ports. However, the giant tried to dissuade him from such an intention, citing numerous political arguments, as well as considerations of justice, and resolutely refused to be an instrument for the enslavement of an independent people. Wise ministers in the state took the side of Gulliver.

The emperor did not forgive this giant. Since then, His Majesty and an enemy clique of ministers began an intrigue against Gulliver, which almost led to his death two months later.

About three weeks after these events, a delegation solemnly arrived from Blefuscu, asked for peace, and soon a treaty was signed on terms very favorable to the emperor of Lilliput. After that, on behalf of their emperor, the ambassadors from Blefuscu invited Gulliver to visit their state. At the very first reception at the emperor Lilliput, he asked for permission to visit Blefuscu. His Majesty did so reluctantly.

then at midnight the steps of a thousandth crowd sounded at the door of Gulliver's house. Several courtiers, squeezing through the crowd, begged Gulliver to go to the palace, because a fire broke out in the chambers of the imperial majesty. He instantly jumped to his feet. Ladders had already been put up against the walls of the chambers and many buckets had been brought in, but the water was not close. Gulliver could easily put out the fire by covering the palace with his camisole, but he left it at home, so he was in a hurry. And this magnificent palace would certainly burn to the ground, if a happy thought had not come to mind.

Gulliver went out of need and did it so deftly that in about three minutes the whole fire went out. But the empress was terribly outraged by Gulliver's act. She settled in the most remote part of the palace, determined never to visit her former chambers, and solemnly promised revenge.

Gulliver intends in this section to describe Lilliput in detail and some general information. The average height of the natives is a little less than six inches, and it exactly corresponds to the size of both animals and plants. But nature has adapted the eyes of the Lilliputians precisely to such sizes, and they see perfectly, but only up close.

Lilliputians write not like Europeans - from left to right, not like Arabs - from right to left, not like Chinese - from top to bottom, but like English houses- obliquely across the page.

They hide the dead, putting them upside down, for they are of the opinion that after eleven thousand moons the dead will be resurrected. And at that time, the earth should be thrown from the bottom up. And the Lilliputians will rise to their feet.

For all crimes against the state, they are punished extremely severely, but if the innocence of the accused is proved at the trial, then the vikazhchik is handed over to a shameful execution, and fines are levied from his property in favor of the innocent, and harmlessness is announced throughout the city.

They consider fraud to be a serious crime than theft, and therefore they punish it with death, therefore caution and vigilance can protect property from a thief, but honesty has nothing to defend against clever fraud.

There, anyone who submits sufficient evidence within 73 months has faithfully followed all the laws of the country is entitled to certain benefits according to his condition and life and receives a proportional amount of money from special funds. In addition, he is given the title of snilpela, i.e. lawyer, does not pass to heirs.

When appointing someone to a public office, Lilliputians pay more attention to moral qualities than to abilities. They believe that truthfulness, justice, moderation, and other similar qualities are within the power of everyone, and that these qualities, with experience and good intentions, make everyone capable of serving his country, except when special knowledge is required. Lack of faith in divine providence also makes a person unfit for public office. The shameful custom of appointing to high positions those who are good at dancing on a tightrope or crawling under a rod was first introduced by the grandfather of the current emperor.

Ingratitude is considered a criminal offense in Lilliput, according to the Lilliputians, one who repays evil to a benefactor is an enemy to all other people to whom he does not owe anything, and therefore he deserves death.

Their views on the duties of parents and children are very different from those in Gulliver's country. Lilliputians believe that parents can be less trusted than anyone else with the upbringing of their children, and therefore in every city there are public educational institutions where all parents, except peasants and workers, should send their children and where they are raised and educated until they will pass 20 months, ie. at the age when, according to the Lilliputians, certain abilities arise. These schools are of several types - depending on the sex of the children and the condition of their parents. The teachers there are very experienced and prepare children for life in accordance with the social position of the parents and their own abilities and inclinations. Parents can see their children only twice a year, each time for no more than an hour. Kissing children is allowed only at a meeting and farewell, and the teacher carefully monitors that the children do not whisper anything, do not say affectionate words and do not bring toys, sweets, etc.

Gulliver did not notice any difference in their upbringing due to the difference in sex, except perhaps physical exercise girls are not so hard.

Peasants and workers keep their children at home, because they only have to plow and cultivate the land, and their upbringing has no of great importance for society. However, shelters have been arranged for the old and infirm, and therefore begging is a trade unknown in the empire.

Further, Gulliver writes about the details of his life and life in the country where he spent 9 months and 13 days. He made himself a table and a chair from the largest trees of the royal park. Two hundred seamstresses sewed him shirts from the finest linen, they must be several times. The measurements were taken from the thumb of his right hand, because in Lilliputians it is mathematically accurately calculated that the circumference of the thumb is twice the circumference of the wrist, apparently the wrist is twice the circumference of the neck, and apparently the neck is twice the circumference of the state.

Three hundred tailors sewed clothes. “When the camisole was ready, it resembled the blankets that English ladies sew from scraps of matter, with the difference that it was all the same color.”

Three hundred cooks cooked food in small houses built near Gulliver's house. One plate with dishes was enough for one sip. Once he was treated to such a huge ham that he was bitten as much as three times, but this was a rare case.

One day, the emperor announced that he wanted to dine with Gulliver, accompanied by his wife, young princes and princesses. He ate more than usual, wanting to hit the yard. And Flimpen, the Lord Chancellor of the Exchequer, an enemy of the giant, then noted that the maintenance of the Man of the Mountain had already cost His Majesty more than 1.5 million thirst (the largest gold coin in the Lilliputians), and advised the emperor to get rid of Gulliver at the first opportunity.

And soon the stranger noticed that he was losing the favor of his majesty.

In this section, Gulliver reports on secret intrigues that have been waged against him for as many as two months.

Just when he was about to visit Emperor Blefuscu, one evening, in top secret, a respectable courtier came to him and, without giving his name, demanded a meeting. He said that Gulliver was accused of treason and other crimes punishable by death, and showed the indictment. The Rada decided to gouge out both of Gulliver's eyes, such a punishment to what extent would satisfy justice. And later, so the emperor believed, it would be possible to punish him even harder. Three days later, a secretary will be sent to Gulliver, and he will read the indictment.

When his highness left, Gulliver remained extremely worried and discouraged. Finally, he settled on this decision. Having his Majesty's official permission to visit the Emperor of Blefuscu, he wrote a letter to the secretary, who was his friend, announcing that he was leaving. Without waiting for an answer, on the same day he went to the seashore, where the fleet was stationed. There he confiscated a warship, tied a rope to its bow, raised the anchors, undressed, put his clothes into the ship and, sorting out the ship behind him, reached the royal port of Blefuscu, where the people were already waiting for him. Emperor Blefuscu, accompanied by his august family and the most significant nobles, went to meet them. Gulliver told his majesty that he had come to them according to the promise and with the permission of the emperor, his owner, for the high honor of seeing such a powerful monarch.

Three days after his arrival in Blefuscu, Gulliver noticed something like an overturned boat at a distance of pivliga on the high seas. He drove him to the shore. The boat was of enormous size, according to the Blefuscians. Then Gulliver told the emperor that this boat was sent to him by his fate in order to give him the opportunity to get to a place where he could return to his homeland, and asked his majesty to give the materials necessary for equipping the vessel, and at the same time permission to leave. He agreed.

Some time later, a messenger from Lilliput arrived in Blefusca with a copy of the indictment. Emperor Blefuscu, after a three-day conference, sent a very polite reply with many apologies. He wrote that, as his brother well understands, it was impossible to send Gulliver bound, and that soon both monarchs would be able to breathe a sigh of relief, because the giant found a huge ship on the shore, on which he could go to sea.

With this answer, the messenger returned to Lilliput.

This forced Gulliver to hurry up and leave earlier than he intended, and the court willingly helped him in this. 500 craftsmen sewed two sails, Gulliver made gear, and adapted a large stone instead of an anchor.

A month later, when everything was ready, his majesty presented Gulliver with his full-length portrait, which the giant immediately hid in a glove so as not to damage it. One hundred ox carcasses and three hundred sheep carcasses were placed in the boat, an appropriate supply of bread and drinks, and as many prepared dishes as four hundred cooks could prepare.

September 24, 1701 at six o'clock in the morning Gulliver put on sails. Soon he saw the ship. It is not easy to express the joy that seized him when he saw the English flag. On the ship, Gulliver met his old comrade and told him everything what had happened, but he did not believe him, thinking that the hardships experienced had darkened his friend's mind. But Gulliver took out cows and sheep from his pocket, which he took with him.

In England, he made a lot of money showing his cattle to various respectful faces and just interesting, and before he went on a second trip, he sold for six hundred pounds.

After staying with his wife and children for only two months, he said goodbye and boarded the merchant ship Adventure. The reader will be able to get acquainted with the description of this journey in the second part of the travels.

Gulliver's Travels was first published by Swift in 1726. The work is a classic of moral and political satirical literature. In the novel, the author exposes and ridicules social and human vices on the example of the states of midgets and giants, the island of Laputa, the kingdom of Balnibarbi. The concentration of human vices in the work are ape-like creatures Yehu.

main characters

Lemuel Gulliver – main character, traveler, surgeon; from his face the story is told in the novel.

King of Lilliput- the monarch, wanted to use Gulliver for his own purposes.

Glumdalclitch- the daughter of a giant farmer, Gulliver's "nanny".

Gray horse in apples- guignhnm, with whom Gulliver lived.

Other characters

Skyresh Bolgolam and Flimnap- detractors of Gulliver in Lilliput.

Reldresel- Secretary of State for Lilliput

giant farmer- showed Gulliver at fairs for money.

King of Brobdingnag- a wise ruler who was alien to the mores of the British.

Queen of Brobdingnag- bought Gulliver from the farmer.

Munodi- a dignitary in Balnibarbi, who ran his household according to the old rules.

Part I. Lilliput

Chapter 1

The Gulliver family lived on a small estate in Nottinghamshire. The boy was the third of five sons. Gulliver received a medical education, after which he worked as a ship surgeon, visited different countries. Returning to England, he married Miss Mary Burton. Soon he made several trips to the East and West Indies.

In May 1669, Gulliver went on another voyage on the ship "Antelope". The ship was wrecked. Gulliver was the only one who managed to escape and get to land.

When Gulliver woke up, he realized that he was tied with many thin strings. Lilliputians armed with bows and spears ran around. Gulliver showed with signs that he would submit to any of their decisions and asked for a drink. By order of the king, the captive was fed. The food was very small, so he swallowed several portions at once.

On a specially made platform, Gulliver was taken to the capital. The prisoner was placed in a huge temple, with many miniature chains chained to his left leg.

Chapter 2

The king of Lilliput ordered to appoint Gulliver "a staff of six hundred servants." They sewed a bedding of Lilliputian mattresses, a sheet and a blanket to the prisoner, and made a suit of a local style. In Lilliput, Gulliver was called Quinbus Flestrin - "Man of Horus".

By order of King Gulliver, they searched. Among his belongings was a rusted saber, two pistols, gunpowder and a pocket watch. The clock was of particular interest to the king. Gulliver managed to hide glasses and a telescope.

Chapter 3

Soon Gulliver began to speak quite tolerably in Lilliputian. To entertain the Man of the Mountain, the king arranged a colorful fair festival. There was an unusual tradition in Lilliput - the most skillful tightrope walkers were appointed to government posts. Gulliver also pulled a handkerchief over the hammered sticks, making a parade ground for the battles of cavalrymen. During the parade, cavalry and infantry troops passed between the spread legs of the Man of the Mountain, as if through a large arch.

The king freed Gulliver. Only Galbet Skyresh Bolgolam, the Admiral of the Royal Navy, was against this decision.

Chapter 4

Gulliver talked a lot with Secretary of State Reldresel. He told the Man of Woe that there are two warring parties in the kingdom. "The Tremexen party united the supporters of high heels, while the Slemexene declared themselves to be adherents of low heels." Wearing high heels is forbidden by the Constitution, as their king is an adherent of low ones.

Lilliputia is also at war with its neighbor, the Blefuscu empire. The reason was that the father of the king ordered to break eggs only from the sharp end. Dissatisfied citizens formed a party of "blunters", started a revolution, were expelled and took refuge in the Blefuscu empire. After that, the states began to quarrel.

It became known that Blefuscu was equipping the fleet and was going to attack. The king asked Gulliver for help.

Chapter 5

Lilliputia occupies part of the continent, Blefuscu was an island. The two countries are separated by a wide strait. Gulliver dragged the enemy ships to the side of Lilliput across the strait by ropes. For this, he was awarded the most honorary title of nardak in the kingdom.

Soon, the king of Lilliput demanded that Gulliver help him completely disarm the enemy, but he refused, which caused the disfavor of the monarch.

Chapter 6

The chief treasurer Flimnap was jealous of his wife for Gulliver and envied his high title, so he began to weave intrigues against the giant. He informed the king that the content of the Man of the Mountain cost them "one and a half million sprugs" (the largest gold coin in Lilliput), so he should be sent out of the country.

Chapter 7

A noble courtier appeared to Gulliver. He said that at the king's council, at the suggestion of Reldresel, it was decided to gouge out both of the Woe Man's eyes. Gulliver hurried to Blefuscu.

Chapter 8

Gulliver discovered a large boat and decided to leave the Lilliputians. Emperor Blefuscu helped him prepare for departure. Gulliver took with him “six live cows, two bulls and the same number of lambs with rams.”

Soon Gulliver noticed an English ship at sea, on which he safely reached England. After staying with his family for no more than three months, Gulliver boarded the merchant ship Adventure.

Part II. Brobdingnag

Chapter 1

When the ship passed the Madagascar Strait, a storm began. They were carried far to the east. Seeing the land, the sailors decided to inspect it, dial fresh water. Gulliver moved away from the others. When he returned, he saw that his comrades had abandoned him, sailing away on a boat from a huge giant. The frightened man ran deep into the island.

Gulliver ran out to a large field, where giant workers cut barley with sickles. One of them heard Gulliver's cries and carried the little man to the owner-farmer. The giant tried to talk to him, but they did not understand each other. During dinner, Gulliver was fed beef and bread. Because of his height, he immediately got into trouble - first, the owner's son picked him upside down, and then the baby took him for a toy and tried to put him in his mouth.

Chapter 2

The farmer's nine-year-old daughter made a bed for Gulliver, sewed clothes for him, and taught the language of the giants. The girl gave Gulliver the name Grildrig, which means "little man", "dwarf". He also called her Glumdalclitch, that is, nanny.

Gulliver aroused the interest of other giants, so the farmer began to show him at the fair for money. The farmer took Gulliver to the capital of the kingdom of the giants, called Lorbrulgrud, that is, "Pride of the Universe".

Chapter 3

Frequent performances undermined Gulliver's health. The farmer decided that he would soon die and gladly sold the little man to the queen. Gulliver asked to take on the service and his nanny Glumdalclitch.

Gulliver often talked with the king. The monarch loved to hear about European customs, religion, education, laws and government, Whig and Tory parties.

Gulliver got a lot from the palace dwarf. He constantly arranged dirty tricks - he thrust a little man into an empty marrow bone, trotted over an apple tree over him, and once even threw him into a jug of cream.

Chapter 4

Gulliver often accompanied the queen on trips. A special travel chest was made for him.

The country of the giants was located on a peninsula and separated from the mainland by a high mountain range. On three other sides, the kingdom was surrounded by the ocean.

Chapter 5

Gulliver's life as a whole was happy, but because of his growth, troubles often happened to him. He fell under the hail, he was grabbed by the gardener's lapdog, almost carried away by the kite, and somehow he even "stumbled over the shell of a snail, fell and sprained his leg."

Once, the cook's monkey grabbed Gulliver and began to rock him like a cub, and then dragged him to the roof. When people began to climb onto the roof, the monkey threw Gulliver away - fortunately, he managed to cling to the tiles.

Chapter 6

From the hairs of the king's beard, Gulliver made a comb. I wove a purse from the queen's hair, as well as a back and a seat for small chairs.

Somehow, listening to Gulliver's stories about England, the king concluded: “Your hundred-year history is nothing but an endless chain of conspiracies, unrest, murders, revolutions, executions and exiles! And this is generated by greed, hypocrisy, treachery, cruelty, hatred, envy, debauchery and ambition.”

Chapter 7

Gulliver showed the king gunpowder and explained its destructive power. Gulliver offered to train local gunsmiths, but, to his surprise, the king refused in horror.

In schools, the giants studied only history, mathematics, poetry and ethics. Printing has existed here for a long time, but books were not particularly popular. The army consisted of merchants and farmers, commanded by nobles and nobles.

Chapter 8

Somehow Gulliver along with royal family went to the south coast. The servant carried the box with Gulliver to the sea. A sea eagle flying by caught the ring on the lid of the box with its beak. At some point, the bird released the box, and the captive ended up in the open sea. Gulliver barely managed to open the top hatch, he began to scream and wave his handkerchief. He was spotted from the ship and helped to get out. Nine months later he returned to England.

Part III. Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdobdrib and Japan

Chapter 1

A couple of months after arriving home, Gulliver again set off on a journey on the Good Hope ship. On the way they were attacked by Dutch and Japanese pirates. Gulliver fell out of favor with their Dutch captain and was sent alone in a canoe "to the will of the waves and winds."

While exploring the nearest islands, Gulliver noticed a flying island above him. The man drew attention to himself and was taken upstairs.

Chapter 2

The inhabitants of the island were distinguished by strange figures. "The heads of all were tilted to the right or to the left, one eye turned inward, and the other directed towards the zenith." The servants, klimenoli or flappers, "carried short sticks with inflated bull bladders tied to them". They slapped their masters with bubbles on the lips or ears, distracting them from their thoughts.

Gulliver was taken to the king, they began to teach the language of the inhabitants of Laputa - the “flying island”. The capital of Laputa was the city of Lagado, located on the ground.

All thoughts of the Laputians incessantly revolve around lines and figures. They consider applied geometry to be "the lot of artisans", so their houses are built very badly. The women of Laputa despise their husbands and have a penchant for foreigners. Men, on the other hand, treat strangers with disdain.

Chapter 3

The entire lower surface of the flying island is a solid diamond slab. The main attraction of Laputa is a huge magnet with which "the island can rise, fall and move from place to place". If the ruler of Laputa wants to punish his subjects on the continent, he stops the island above their city, thereby depriving the inhabitants of the rays of the sun and rain moisture.

The Laputians have a well-developed astronomy, they "discovered two satellites revolving around Mars", in which they were far ahead of the Europeans.

Chapter 4

Soon Gulliver went to the continent under the rule of the monarch of the flying island - to the kingdom of Balnibarbi. The traveler was hosted by a local dignitary, a former governor named Myunodi.

All the houses of Lagado looked dilapidated, and the people were dressed in rags. Outside the city, peasants worked in empty fields. In the village estate of Munodi, everything was the other way around - here "fenced fields, vineyards, orchards and meadows could be seen." Munodi explained that he runs the house according to the old rules, so his compatriots despise him.

The dignitary said that about 40 years ago, some residents of the capital went to Laputa. Returning to earth, they decided to change everything and created the Academy of projectors.

Chapters 5 - 6

Gulliver visited the Academy of projectors, visited various scientists. One was engaged in "a project of distilling cucumbers for the purpose of extracting the sun's rays from them." The second is "the problem of converting human excrement into nutrients." A certain architect came up with "a new way of building buildings, starting from the roof." Also, scientists suggested abandoning words in the language, and so that political opponents could reach agreement, they offered them to cut out and change parts of the brain. Gulliver visited many more classrooms and laboratories, but all scientists worked on meaningless things.

Chapters 7 - 8

Gulliver went to the main port of the kingdom - Maldonada. He was invited to visit Glubbdobdrib - "the island of sorcerers and magicians." The island was ruled by the oldest mage living on the island. He could bring the dead back to life for 24 hours. The living dead served in the ruler's palace.

The ruler offered to bring back to life some historical figures. Gulliver asked to revive Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompey, Descartes, Gassendi, Aristotle and other famous personalities.

Chapter 9

Gulliver sets sail for Luggnagg. He is arrested and brought to Trildrogdrib, the residence of the king. According to the rules of the kingdom, Gulliver had to crawl on his belly and lick the dust at the foot of the throne.

Chapter 10

One noble gentleman said that “in Luggnegg, children are born with a red spot on their foreheads” - immortal struldbrugs. Having reached the age of eighty, struldbrugs suffer from all the ailments and infirmities characteristic of deep old people. "Immortals are incapable of friendship", "envy and impotent desires constantly gnaw at them."

Chapter 11

After leaving the residence of the king, Gulliver went to the royal port of Glangvenstalda, from where he sailed on a ship to Japan. In the Japanese port city of Nagasaki, Gulliver met Dutch sailors. With them he sailed to Amsterdam, from where he soon returned to England.

Part IV. In the country of the Houyhnhnms

Chapter 1

Gulliver spent about 5 months with his wife and children, but the craving for travel turned out to be stronger. Taking command of the merchant ship Adventurer, he set sail. On the way, he had to take on new people in Barbados. They turned out to be pirates, captured the ship and landed Gulliver ashore.

Heading inland, Gulliver saw disgusting-looking ape-like creatures. They surrounded Gulliver, but noticing the approaching dappled gray horse, they immediately fled. The horse looked at Gulliver with interest. Soon another horse came up. They discussed something among themselves, and then taught Gulliver two words - "Yehu" and "guigngnm".

Chapter 2

The gray horse led Gulliver to the building, inside which a manger with hay stretched along the wall and other horses were located. Gulliver outwardly differed little from the local Yahoos. He was offered yehu (rotten meat) food, but he refused, asking for milk with signs. After dinner, Gulliver baked bread from oats, which also surprised the horse.

The horses used the Yehu as livestock, harnessed them to carts.

Chapter 3

Gulliver began to actively study the language of the Houyhnhnms. The words "lie" and "deceit" did not exist in their language, they had no idea about ships, states, they did not have writing and literature.

Chapter 4

Gulliver told how horses are treated in England. The gray horse was especially indignant at the fact that people ride Houyhnhnms on horseback.

Chapters 5 - 6

Gulliver told the horse in detail about history, revolution, wars, law and law, the conduct of court cases, what money is, what is the value of precious metals.

Chapters 7 - 8

Gulliver was so imbued with love and respect for the Houyhnhnms that he decided never to return to people again.

Gulliver describes that Yahoos are very difficult to train. "They are stubborn, vicious, treacherous, vindictive and completely devoid of the germs of nobility and generosity." The Houyhnhnms, on the contrary, “are endowed with a good heart and have no idea of ​​evil; the main rule of their life is a reasonable and harmonious existence.

Chapter 9

Every fourth year the Council of Representatives meets in the country, where "the situation in the districts into which the whole local land is divided" is discussed. Gulliver was secretly present at one of them and heard that the Houygnhnms consider Yehu useless. After the Council, it was decided that Gulliver, like a Yahoo, should be sent outside of their region.

Gulliver built something like an Indian pirogue, said goodbye to the Houyhnhnms and set sail.

Chapter 10

Gulliver wanted to build a hut on the nearest island and settle down in solitude. But the sailors of the Portuguese ship picked him up. They decided that Gulliver had lost his mind, so he did not want to return home and told fairy tales about intelligent horses.

After a while, Gulliver returned to the family, but the children annoyed him, and his wife seemed like a stranger. Soon he bought two foals and talked with them for several hours a day.

Conclusion

Gulliver's travels took 16 years and 7 months. He concludes by noting that he wrote about his travels not for the sake of fame, but "for the sake of correcting morals". Gulliver is trying to apply the lessons learned from the Houyhnhnms. He calls his family members Yehu and hopes to re-educate them. Gulliver is still disgusted by his fellow tribesmen, admiring horses. He is especially annoyed by human pride.

Conclusion

"The Adventures of Gulliver" is traditionally classified as a fantastic satirical-philosophical novel. In the book, Swift examines the issues of self-identification of a person, his search for his place in the world, touches on the problem of corruption, immorality of society, depicting human vices on the example of various heroes.

The novel "The Adventures of Gulliver" was translated into many languages, filmed more than ten times.

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Full version 2.5 hours (≈50 A4 pages), summary 15 minutes.

main characters

Lemuel Gulliver, Emperor of the Lilliputians, Lord Munodi, Struldbrugi, Flimnap, Reldresel, King of Brobdingnag, Glumdalclitch, Yehu, Huygnhnmy, Pedro de Mendes.

At the very beginning, the author said that the book was written by his friend and relative, Lemuel Gulliver. He wanted to create it for young nobles. The novel was reduced by fifty percent thanks to the pages that were devoted to the details of the sea.

What follows is a letter from Gulliver addressed to his relative Simpson. In it, Lemuel expressed his dissatisfaction with the removal of certain passages from the book and the insertion of another text. The reason for this was the unwillingness to conflict with the authorities. Gulliver believed that the printing of his book had no practical use, because it had no effect on the vices of society. On the contrary, he was accused of showing disrespect and creating books to which he had nothing to do.

The first part of "Journey to Lilliput"

First chapter

Gulliver was the fifth offspring of the owner of a small estate. In his youth he studied at Cambridge. Then for about three years he studied medicine in Leiden. Then Gulliver became a surgeon at Swallow. He served there for three and a half years. After that, he married the daughter of a stocking merchant and began to live in London. Two years later, when his teacher Bets died, Gulliver's affairs went badly. Therefore, he again went to serve as a surgeon on a ship. He spent six years in the Navy. Then for three years he tried to settle on dry land. However, he gave up again and returned to the ship. In May 1699, Gulliver set sail on the South Sea.

The ship was caught in a violent storm. It was carried northwest of Australia. There was thick fog and the ship crashed. All team members were killed. The hero was able to swim to the shore. There he fell and spent nine hours sleeping.

After waking up, Gulliver found that he was tied to the ground. There were forty little men on his body. The hero was able to shake them off and free his left hand. A lot of arrows rained down on this hand. Gulliver decided not to move and fight the enemy only after it got dark. A platform was built around it. On this platform ascended Gurgo, who is an important dignitary. He spoke for a long time in an incomprehensible language. The hero began to show with gestures that he wants to eat. The people fed him. The retinue of the king explained to Gulliver for ten minutes that he would be taken to the capital. The hero asked to be released. Gurgo refused. The natives loosened the ropes so that Gulliver could relieve himself. The damaged skin of the hero was smeared with a special ointment. Sleeping pills were mixed into the wine that Gulliver drank. And he fell asleep for eight hours. He was taken to the capital on a very large cart with horses.

In the morning, at the city gates, he was met by the emperor with his retinue. The hero was settled in an ancient temple, which, after a terrible murder, was used as a public building. For safety, his left leg was chained with a large number of chains.

Second chapter

The hero looked around. For the first time he went out of need in his place of stay, again he made a toilet already far from the place of his own confinement. The height of the local ruler was no more than the length of Gulliver's nail. The emperor with his family and retinue visited the hero and took care of everything necessary for him.

During the first two weeks, Gulliver slept on the floor. Later, a mattress and bedding were made for him. The inhabitants of the country came to see the hero. The ruler of the country daily gathered a council of ministers, at which he decided what to do with the giant. He could run away or cause famine in the country. Gulliver treated the mischievous people whom the guards handed over to him well. And it saved him from death. The emperor gave the order to provide the giant with food, gave him six hundred servants, three hundred tailors and six teachers who taught the hero the local language.

Three weeks later, the hero began to talk a little with the Lilliputians in their language. He asked the ruler to release him. two officials searched it and made an inventory of Gulliver's property. A saber, two pistols, bullets for them and gunpowder were confiscated from Gulliver. The hero kept his spectacles and pocket spyglass, as he managed to hide them during the search.

Third chapter

The hero began to receive the mercy of the emperor. The population of the country began to treat him with confidence more and more. Gulliver was entertained by dancing on a tightrope. It was performed by those who wanted to get a high position in the state. A hero's hat lay on the shore. The inhabitants of the country returned it to Gulliver. The hero found a mortal enemy. It was Admiral Bolgolam. He drew up a document in which he indicated the conditions for the release of Gulliver.

Fourth chapter

The hero examined Mildendo, the capital of Lilliput, and the emperor's palace located in its center. The chief secretary, Reldresel, explained to him the political situation within the state and told him about the threat of an attack by the Blefuscu empire, which was located on the island next door.

Fifth chapter

The hero delivered fifty Blefuscu ships to the port of Liliput, cutting off their anchors and tying them together. The ruler of the country dreamed of the absolute enslavement of the enemy. However, Gulliver refused to help him. The hero was called to extinguish a fire in the imperial palace. Gulliver fell out of favor because he urinated on a fire.

sixth chapter

The hero told about the growth of Lilliputians, animals and plants available in the country. He described the customs of the local population. They wrote on the page from one corner to another, the dead were buried head down, and judges who falsely accused informers were severely punished. Ingratitude in this country was equated with a criminal offense. Children owe nothing to their parents. And they were brought up separately from the family and divided depending on belonging to a particular gender.

For all the time of the hero's presence in this country, he made a table and a chair, received other clothes. During dinner with the emperor, Flimnap, who is the Lord Chancellor, was jealous of his own wife for Gulliver. Therefore, he said that the content was very expensive for the state.

seventh chapter

The palace friend acquainted the hero with the act of accusation, which was drawn up by Bolgolam and Flimnap. He was accused of urinating on the emperor's palace, refusing to conquer Blefusca and wanting to go to the island next door. He did not wait for punishment and fled the country.

Chapter Eight

Three days later, the hero found the boat and asked the ruler of Blefuscu for permission to return home. In Lilliput, he was declared a traitor and they demanded that he return to the country. The ruler of Blefuscu did not betray the hero. He left the island. two days later Gulliver was picked up by a ship. In mid-April the following year, he arrived at the Downs. For two months he lived with his family. Then he set out on his journey again.

The second part of "Journey to Brobdingnag"

First chapter

In the second half of June 1702, the hero left England. The next year in April, the ship on which he traveled was caught in a storm. Two years later, the ship began to lack fresh water. The hero and the sailors landed on an unfamiliar mainland. He witnessed the sailors being chased by a giant. He himself found himself in a very large field where tall barley grew. There he was discovered by a peasant and given to his own owner. The hero showed him his good side. He entered the giant's house. There he sat at a common table with the household.

The hostess put the hero on her own bed. When he woke up, he had to fight with rats, the size of which was the size of a mongrel. He went out of need to the garden, into which the giant's wife carried him.

Second chapter

The giant's daughter made a bed for the hero in the cradle of her own doll, sewed shirts for him, taught him the language and named Grildrig. The giant's neighbor offered to show Gulliver at the fair for money. In the Green Eagle, the hero performed twelve times. Two months later, the giant took him around the country. Within ten weeks they visited eighteen big cities and a large number of small villages. The giant's daughter was also on this trip. In October, the hero was taken to the capital.

Third chapter

Due to regular performances, the hero began to lose weight. The giant thought that soon Gulliver would die. He sold it to the queen. The giant's daughter remained by the side of the hero. He told the Queen about his treatment. The queen introduced the hero to the king. Tom at first thought he saw a small animal. Then he decided that there was a mechanism in front of him. The king spoke to the hero. Then three scientists investigated Gulliver, but could not find out the secret of his appearance in the world.

They made a small house for the hero and sewed new clothes. He regularly dined with the Queen. And on certain days with the king. The royal dwarf was jealous of his fame. Therefore, he dipped Gulliver in cream. Huge flies and wasps were dangerous for the hero.

Fourth chapter

The queen took the hero to travel around the country. The kingdom was a peninsula surrounded by an ocean on three sides. On the fourth side were high mountains. The capital was located on two banks of the river.

Fifth chapter

In the kingdom, the hero was exposed to constant dangers. The royal dwarf shook apples on his head, the hail beat hard on his back, the white spaniel mistook him for a toy that must be brought to the owner, the monkey decided that he was her cub. The ladies-in-waiting took off all his clothes and laid them on their chests. The queen gave the order to make a boat for him and a long basin for rowing.

sixth chapter

The hero made a comb, chairs and a purse out of royal hair, played the spinet for the royal spouses. He told the king about England and received criticism of the court, finances and the army with justification.

seventh chapter

The hero offered to tell the king about gunpowder. He was horrified and asked not to remember this weapon in his presence in the future.

The hero told the reader the scientific, legislative features and character traits the art of Brobdingnag.

Chapter Eight

Two years later, the hero with the king and queen headed for the south coast. The page carried Gulliver to the beach to get some air. While the page was looking for birds' nests, the hero's travel box was stolen by an eagle. This eagle was attacked by other birds. Gulliver found himself in the sea. There he was picked up by a ship. The captain thought the hero was crazy. He realized that Gulliver was not sick when he saw things from the kingdom. Early in June 176 he arrived at the Downs.

The third part of "Journey to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdobdrib and Japan"

First chapter

In early August 1706, the hero left England. Pirates attacked the ship at sea. Gulliver tried in vain to get mercy from the villain from Holland. But the Japanese showed some mercy towards him. The team was captured. The hero was put in a shuttle and released into the ocean. There he landed on one of the islands.

Four days later, Gulliver noticed a flying island in the sky. The islanders responded to his plea for help.

Second chapter

The islanders had an unusual appearance. Their heads were beveled to the right or left sides. The first eye looked inward, and the second looked up. The nobles were accompanied by servants who carried bubbles of air and small stones. With them, they brought their own masters out of deep thoughts.

The hero was fed, taught to speak their language, clothes were sewn. After a while, the island flew to the capital. Gulliver noted for himself that the islanders were engaged only in music and geometry, and most of all they were frightened by cataclysms in space. The wives of the islanders constantly cheated on their husbands with less thoughtful foreigners.

Third chapter

The island was held by a large magnet, which was located in a cave in the middle of Laputa. The king managed to prevent popular uprisings on the mainland by blocking the sun or lowering the island above the city. The king and his sons could not leave the island.

Fourth chapter

The hero descended to the mainland of the islanders. In the capital, he lived with Munodi. The hero saw the poor attire of the inhabitants and the fields without vegetation. But the peasants, despite this, were engaged in their cultivation. Munodi said it was a new way of tillage, developed by the Projector Academy, which was established four decades ago by people who came to the island. he ran his own household as before. So he was great.

Fifth chapter

The hero visited this Academy. There he met professors who were trying to get the rays of the sun and cucumbers, food from excrement, gunpowder from ice. Create a house starting from the roof, adapt pigs for plowing, get yarn from the cobwebs, normalize the functioning of the intestines with the help of furs. Perform the mechanization of the process of cognition and make the language easier by excluding some parts of speech or all words absolutely.

sixth chapter

Political searchlights advised the government to act in the popular interest. The hero thought it was crazy. For those who are against such proposals, doctors advised to exchange the back parts of the brain. Taxes were proposed to be taken from shortcomings or virtues.

seventh chapter

The hero went to Maldonada, intending to go from there to Luggnagg. While waiting for the ship, he visited the island of Glubbdobdrib, where wizards lived. The ruler called him the spirits of great people.

Chapter Eight

The hero communicated with Homer, Aristotle, Gassendi, Descartes, the kings of Europe and ordinary people.

Ninth chapter

The hero returned to Maldonada. Fourteen days later he sailed for Luggnagg. There, Gulliver was arrested before orders from the ruler. He then got the opportunity to meet the king. When approaching this ruler, it was necessary to lick the floor.

Tenth chapter

In Luggnagg, the hero remained for three months. The inhabitants were courteous and good-natured. Here he learned about m, that immortal people are born among the inhabitants. He enthusiastically painted his immortal life. However, he was told that immortality was not so great, because in the ninth decade such people became gloomy and melancholy, dreaming of youth or death. They began to get sick, forgot their language and dragged out a miserable life.

Eleventh chapter

From Luggnagg, the hero went to Japan. The emperor, respecting the Luggnegg king, freed Gulliver from punishment. At the end of the first decade of April 1710, the hero ended up in Amsterdam. And six days later, down to the Downs.

The fourth part "Journey to the country of the Houyhnhnms"

First chapter

In September 1710, the hero became a captain on the Adventurer. Due to inexperience, he recruited sea robbers into the team. They arrested him. In May 1711, the hero was landed on an unfamiliar shore, which was covered with forests and fields. Monkeys attacked Gulliver. The strange horse saved him. Soon another horse appeared. Animals spoke, felt the hero, marveled at his clothes, taught him new words.

Second chapter

The horse brought the hero to his house. There Gulliver again met with monkeys that looked like humans. The horses kept them as pets. Gulliver was offered the food of these monkeys. However, he preferred cow's milk. The horses ate porridge with milk. The hero tried to make oatmeal bread.

Third chapter

The hero taught the language of horses. Three months later, he told the horse his own story. Know came to see the hero.

Once a bay hinny found Gulliver naked. He showed him his own body. The horse was convinced that Gulliver had practically no differences from monkeys. However, he agreed to keep everything a secret.

Fourth chapter

The hero told the horse about the civilization of Europe, how horses are treated in it.

Fifth chapter

The hero told the horse about how things are going in England, about the wars in Europe and the legislation of the state.

sixth chapter

The hero explained to the horse what money, alcohol, medicine, the first minister of state, the degenerate nobility of England represented.

seventh chapter

The hero explained to the reader why he presented the English in a bad light. He liked the simplicity and sincerity of horses. The horse concluded that the British used their own mind only to consolidate existing and obtain new vices. He told the hero about the abomination of the nature of the local monkeys.

Chapter Eight

The hero observed the habits of monkeys. In horses, he noted the strict adherence to rationality, friendship and goodwill. There was no passion in horse families. Families here were created for the appearance of offspring. Each family had a foal of each sex.

Ninth chapter

The hero found himself at a meeting of the whole nation, held once every four years. It raised the question of the destruction of all monkeys. The horse made a proposal to use a different method - to sterilize the existing monkeys.

Tenth chapter

The hero lived with the horses for three years and dreamed of staying with them forever. The Grand Council decided that Gulliver should be kept together with other monkeys or let go home. For two months, the hero built a pirogue. Then he went to a distant island.

Eleventh chapter

The hero managed to get to Australia. The savages hit him with an arrow in the knee on his left leg. Gulliver was picked up by a ship. He made an attempt to escape from it, because he did not want to be among the Yahoos. The captain landed him in Lisbon, assisted him in adapting to life among people and sent him home. In early December 1715, the hero met with his own family.

Twelfth chapter

Gulliver traveled for sixteen years and seven months. After returning to England, he stated that the main task of the writer, who tells about his own adventures, is the veracity of events.

Year: 1727 Genre: novel

Main characters: Lemuel Gulliver - the son of a landowner, a surgeon on a ship, a traveler.

Jonathan Swift's novel "Gulliver's Travels" tells about the adventures of the hero of the same name. He is a sailor. Often his ship is in distress, and the main character finds himself in amazing countries. In the country of the Lilliputians, Gulliver is a giant, in the country of giants, on the contrary. On the floating island, the hero saw what excessive ingenuity could lead to ...

Meaning. Swift's novel shows state structure England, modern Jonathan, namely its customs and way of life of the people inhabiting it. And the author does it ironically. He also ridicules the vices of the people who inhabit his native country.

Summary of Gulliver's Travels in parts

Part 1. Gulliver in the land of Lilliputians

The protagonist of the work Lemuel Gulliver is a sea traveler. He is sailing on a ship. The first country he enters is Lilliput.

The ship is in distress. Gulliver comes to his senses already on the shore. He feels that he is bound hand and foot by very small people.

The man-mountain, as the Lilliputians call the main character, is peacefully disposed towards the local population. For this reason, he is fed, provided with housing.

The head of state of the Lilliputians himself goes to talk with Gulliver. During the conversation, the emperor tells about the war with the neighboring state. Gulliver, in gratitude for the warm welcome, decides to help little people. He draws the entire enemy fleet into the bay, on the shore of which the Lilliputians live. For this act, he was awarded the highest award in the state.

Gulliver is further called by the local population "the horror and joy of the Universe." One fine day, he becomes objectionable to the emperor, and the hero has to emigrate to Blefuska (a nearby state). But even in the neighboring state, Gulliver is a burden to the inhabitants ... He eats a lot ... Then the hero builds a boat and sails into the open sea. During the journey, he purely by chance meets a ship belonging to England and returns home. With him, Gulliver brings Lilliputian lambs to his homeland, which, according to him, have bred well.

Part 2. Gulliver in the land of giants

Gulliver does not sit at home, he, as they say, is called by the wind of wanderings. He again goes on a sea voyage and this time ends up in the country of the giants. He is immediately brought before the king. The king of this country cares about the welfare of his subjects. Gulliver notices that the people inhabiting the country of the giants are not very developed ...

The daughter of the king paid special attention to the person of Gulliver. She considers him her living toy. She even creates all the conditions for him to live. It is amusing for her to watch her living toy, and he is offended and even, at times, hurt by games.

The whole country of giants is disgusting to Gulliver. And in their faces he notices all the little things. And it’s a sin not to notice a hair that looks like a hundred-year-old oak log.

Perhaps the greatest hostility towards Gulliver is experienced by the royal dwarf, the former favorite of the royal daughter. After all, Gulliver is now a rival for him. Out of anger, he takes revenge on Gulliver. He puts him in a cage with a monkey, who almost tortured the main character to death.

Gulliver himself tells the king about the structure of life in England. And no matter how well His Majesty treats him, he wants to return to his homeland with all his might.

And again, his majesty chance bursts into the fate of Gulliver. The eagle grabs the main character's house and takes it to the open sea, where Gulliver is picked up by a ship from England.

Part 3. Gulliver in the country of scientists

The life of the protagonist is filled with events. By coincidence, he ends up on an island that soars in the sky, and then descends to the capital of this island, which is located on earth.

What catches the eye of the traveler? This is terrible poverty, wretchedness. But, no matter how strange it may seem, in this world of devastation and chaos, one can single out islands where prosperity and order flourish. Why is this happening?

This state of affairs is caused by the reforms of the government of the country, which in no way improve the lives of ordinary citizens.

Almost all people are academics. They are very passionate about their research that they do not notice anything around.
The trouble with academicians is that they scientific projects not implemented. Scientific discoveries"open" only on paper. Therefore, the country is in decline .... We can say that all these people are reinventing the wheel. And life does not stand still!

Picture or drawing Swift - Gulliver's Travels

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