Which punishment does the king ultimately choose for Gulliver?

In "Gulliver's Travels," the king chooses to spare Gulliver's life but decides to blind him as a form of punishment. This decision reflects the king’s deeply ingrained sense of justice and his desire to exert control over Gulliver, who he perceives as a threat. The act of blinding Gulliver symbolizes the limitations imposed by authority and serves as a broader commentary on the nature of power and punishment within the society depicted in the novel. Additionally, blinding Gulliver signifies a loss of perspective and insight for the protagonist, paralleling the novella's exploration of human folly and the flaws inherent in civilization. The king's unique choice also highlights the extremes to which rulers may go when faced with perceived insubordination, thus providing a critical look at the relationship between the individual and those in power.