Ask a Teacher

Search



Why did emperor decided to let Gulliver live?
Gulliver has been behaving so well, the emperor, his court, and the general population began to trust him. Gulliver also has made a great deal of progress in learning the language and learning about the culture  and he is now such a large part of.The emperor decides to entertain Gulliver by showing him a tradition of the court in which candidates for an open position of honor compete by walking to the middle of a string or tight-rope that is suspended two-and-a-half feet above the ground. They jump as high as they are able. "Whoever jumps the highest without falling succeeds in the Office." Gulliver tells the reader that very often these competitors are injured or fall to their death.

Gulliver's hat is found washed upon the shore, and he asks the emperor to command his men to bring it to him. It is worn from being dragged the half-mile to the kingdom, but it looks tolerably good. The emperor then asks Gulliver to stand up tall with his legs spread apart so that his troops can march through them.

Gulliver is finally granted his freedom on the condition that he (1) swear to help the Lilliputians if they are ever in a war, (2) survey the surrounding land, (3) help with any building that needs to be done, and (4) deliver messages. He agrees. In return he will be granted the food and drink sufficient for 1,724 Lilliputians.


comments powered by Disqus