2. Below is a passage quoted from the beginning of Gulliver's Travels. Comment on how the author's
tone and characterization reveal the advantage and the limitation of Gulliver's perspective, and how his
comments on the Lilliput, Brobdingnag, Laputa, and the land Houyhnhnms from such a perspective can
bring new light to the problems of the eighteentb-century society or be questioned (35%).
''my father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the third of five sons. He sent me
to Emanuel College in Cambridge, at fourteen years old, where I resided three years, and
applied myself close to my studies: but the charge of maintaining me (although I had a
very scanty allowance) being too great for a narrow fortune, I was bound to apprentice to Mr.
James Bates, an eminent surgeon in London, with whom I continued four years; and my
father now and then sending me small sums of money, I laid them out in learning
navigation, and other parts of the mathematics, useful to those who intend to travel, as I
always believed it would be some time or other my fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates,
I went down to my father, where, by the assistance of him and my uncle John, and some
other relations, I got forty pounds, and a promise of thirty pounds a year to maintain me at
Leyden: there I studied physic two years and seven months, knowing it would be useful in
long voyages.... When I came back, I resolved to settle in London, to which Mr. Bates, my master,
encouraged me, and by him I was recommended to several patients. I took part of a small
house in the Old Jury; and being advised to alter my condition, I married Mrs. Mary
Burton, second daughter to Mr. Edmond Burton, hosier, in Newgate Street; with whom I
received four hundred pounds for a portion.
But, my good master Bates dying in two years after, and I, having few friends, my business
began to fail; for my conscience would not suffer me to imitate the bad practice of too
many among my brethren. Having therefore consulted with my wife, and some of my
acquaintance, I determined to go again to sea."