Reimagining Lilliputian Traditions in Gulliver's Travels

Modifying the Traditions of the Lilliputians

In Gulliver's Travels, through the character of Lemuel Gulliver, Jonathan Swift apparently wishes to modify the traditions of the Lilliputians. The traditions were of breaking eggs from the small end first and "That all true believers shall break their eggs at the convenient end"; other such satirist traditions were to be followed, found in the chapter entitled "A Voyage to Lilliput."

One of the first traditions that appear in the chapter is rope-dancing. Rope-dancers are Lilliputians who are seeking employment in the government, for the performance, as a competitive examination, the candidates dance on ropes, or "a slender white thread, extended about two foot, twelve inches from he ground" (73); whomever jumps the highest earns a position in office. The people who currently hold office continue this tradition as well, in order to show that they have not lost their skill. There does not seem to be any desire for modification of this tradition; on the contrary, Gulliver seems to be entertained by the tradition.

The second tradition of the Lilliputians that appears in this chapter is of the heels. The heels represent the two different political parties in this Empire; Slamecksans are the low-heeled and the Tramecksan are the high-heeled.Raldresal, Principal Secretary of Private Affairs, tells Gulliver that the they, Slamecksans, believe that the high-heeled government is far greater than their government, but that "the power was wholly" on their side (84). He adds that the Emperor himself has lower heels than all of his officials, but that he has one heel higher than the other, making him walk unevenly. Perhaps, through the description of the uneven heels, the author is telling the reader that government is not at all perfect, and is "uneven" or injustice. Yet, there are many more other traditions he feels should be modified.