Gulliver’s Travels · Chapter
Chapter XI explained
Gulliver leaves Luggnagg, travels to Japan, and returns to England via Amsterdam.
What happens
Gulliver leaves Luggnagg, travels to Japan, and returns to England via Amsterdam. He recounts his audience with the Emperor of Japan, where he is excused from trampling the crucifix, and his journey home aboard a Dutch ship.
Themes in this chapter
Satire of Politics and Government
The Emperor's favor to Gulliver, bypassing the crucifix ceremony, satirizes political manipulation and diplomatic exceptions.
Human Pride and Vanity
Gulliver's pride in his clever deception and the Dutch sailors' curiosity reflect human vanity and self-importance.
Relativity of Perspective
Gulliver's account of the struldbrugs and his own story highlight how different cultures view the same phenomena differently.
Characters to notice
- Lemuel Gulliver
Narrator and protagonist; leaves Luggnagg, travels to Japan, and returns to England.
- Pedro de Mendez
Not present in this chapter.
- Reldresal
Not present in this chapter.
- Skyresh Bolgolam
Not present in this chapter.
- Flimnap
Not present in this chapter.
- Captain William Robinson
Not present in this chapter.
- Mr. James Bates
Not present in this chapter.
- James Welch
Not present in this chapter.
- Captain Pocock
Not present in this chapter.
- Glumdalclitch
Not present in this chapter.
Key passages
“I thought this account of the struldbrugs might be some entertainment to the reader, because it seems to be a little out of the common way; at least I do not remember to have met the like in any book of travels that has come to my hands”
Gulliver believes his description of the struldbrugs will amuse readers, as it is unusual and unlike any travel account he has read.
Gulliver justifies including the struldbrug story as novel and entertaining.
“I answered, as I had before determined, 'that I was a Dutch merchant, shipwrecked in a very remote country, whence I had travelled by sea and land to Luggnagg, and then took shipping for Japan; where I knew my countrymen often traded, and with some of these I hoped to get an opportunity of returning into Europe'”
Gulliver pretends to be a Dutch merchant who was shipwrecked and traveled to Luggnagg, then to Japan, hoping to find Dutch traders to return to Europe.
Gulliver lies about his identity to secure passage home.
“I returned my thanks, by the interpreter, for so unusual a favour; and some troops being at that time on their march to Nangasac, the commanding officer had orders to convey me safe thither, with particular instructions about the business of the crucifix.”
Gulliver thanks the Emperor through the interpreter for the exceptional favor, and troops escort him to Nangasac with orders to handle the crucifix issue discreetly.
The Emperor grants Gulliver an exemption from the crucifix ceremony, arranging a covert passage.
