Gulliver’s Travels Character
G
Gulliver
Protagonist
Kind
Helpful
Adventurous
Giant among small people
Gulliver is an English doctor and sailor who travels to the land of Lilliput. He is vastly larger than the tiny Lilliputians and tries to help them despite the complications his size causes. He navigates complex political situations in a foreign miniature world.
EO
Emperor of Lilliput
Antagonist
Power-hungry
Egotistical
Manipulative
Small in stature
The Emperor is the ruler of Lilliput who is tiny in size but possesses an enormous ego. He seeks to exploit Gulliver for his own political and military ambitions, such as using him against the rival island of Blefuscu. He favors the Slamecksan political group and consolidates power around himself.
MM
Mrs. Mary Burton Gulliver
Minor
Loyal
Patient
Mary Burton Gulliver is Gulliver's wife back in England. She plays a minimal role in the narrative of the first voyage.
L
Lilliputians
Supporting
Tiny
Politically divided
Proud
Warlike
The Lilliputians are the citizens of the island of Lilliput, standing only 5 or 6 inches tall. Despite their miniature size, they maintain complex political structures, social hierarchies, and ongoing conflicts with neighboring Blefuscu. They interact extensively with Gulliver throughout the voyage.
EO
Empress of Lilliput
Minor
Fearful
Resentful
Proud
Unforgiving
The Empress is the wife of the Emperor of Lilliput. She harbors fear and dislike toward Gulliver, particularly after her palace is damaged as a result of his actions. Her resentment contributes to the hostility Gulliver faces at court.
F
Flimnap
Supporting
Distrustful
Jealous
Politically shrewd
Antagonistic toward Gulliver
Flimnap serves as the Treasurer and finance minister of Lilliput. He is suspicious of Gulliver and at times jealous of the attention and favor Gulliver receives. He represents the self-interested courtiers who view Gulliver as a threat.
R
Reldresal
Supporting
Friendly
Informative
Diplomatic
Helpful
Reldresal is the Chief Secretary and an important official in Lilliput. He is one of Gulliver's few genuine allies at the Lilliputian court, offering friendship and explaining the political troubles of the land to Gulliver.
SB
Skyresh Bolgolam
Supporting
Hostile
Envious
Politically motivated
Antagonistic
Skyresh Bolgolam is the Admiral and navy leader of Lilliput. He harbors a strong personal dislike for Gulliver and acts as his primary enemy within the Lilliputian court, working against Gulliver's interests at every opportunity.
BP
Blefuscu People
Minor
Warlike
Tiny
Rival to Lilliput
Defiant
The people of Blefuscu are the inhabitants of a nearby island who are similarly tiny in stature to the Lilliputians. They are engaged in an ongoing war with Lilliput and are considered enemies of the Emperor and his court.
T
Tramecksan
Symbolic
Also known as: High-Heels
Traditionalist
Royalist
Conservative
Politically marginalized
The Tramecksan, or High-Heels, are one of the two main political factions in Lilliput, identifiable by their tall shoes. They support old royal families and the aristocracy, functioning as a satirical parallel to the Tories in England. The Emperor of Lilliput actively suppresses their influence and denies them governmental power.
S
Slamecksan
Symbolic
Also known as: Low-Heels
Populist
Pro-Emperor
Progressive
Politically favored
The Slamecksan, or Low-Heels, are the rival political faction in Lilliput, identified by their short shoes. They support the Emperor and advocate for greater power for common people, serving as a satirical stand-in for the Whigs in England. The Emperor rewards them with positions and influence in government.
B
Big-Endians
Symbolic
Dogmatic
Traditionalist
Religiously motivated
Combative
The Big-Endians are a faction in Lilliput who insist on breaking eggs from the big end. They serve as a satirical symbol of Catholics and the broader absurdity of religious conflict. Their dispute with the Little-Endians mirrors real-world religious wars fought over seemingly trivial doctrinal differences.
L
Little-Endians
Symbolic
Dogmatic
Reform-minded
Religiously motivated
Combative
The Little-Endians are the opposing faction who break eggs from the small end. They symbolize Protestants in Swift's religious satire. Their conflict with the Big-Endians illustrates how societies can wage bitter wars over minor and arbitrary distinctions.
R
Rope-Dancers
Symbolic
Corrupt
Ambitious
Performative
Unstable
The Rope-Dancers are ministers and court officials in Lilliput who perform dangerous dances on a rope in order to earn promotions and favor. They symbolize the corrupt, precarious, and performance-driven nature of political court life, reflecting Swift's satire of unstable and dishonest governance.