Summary
Gulliver finds himself completely dependent on a nine-year-old girl named Glumdalclitch, who becomes his protector, teacher, and only source of genuine care in this giant world. She teaches him the language, makes him clothes, and treats him with real affection—calling him Grildrig (little man) while he calls her his 'little nurse.' But this tender relationship exists within a harsh reality: her father sees Gulliver as a money-making opportunity. Despite Glumdalclitch's tears and protests, her father takes Gulliver to market towns as a performing curiosity, forcing him to walk, talk, and do tricks for paying crowds. The experience is exhausting and humiliating—Gulliver nearly gets his head knocked off by a hazelnut thrown by a schoolboy, since even small objects are dangerous at his size. What starts as local exhibitions grows into a grand tour toward the capital city, with Gulliver performing multiple shows daily in increasingly larger venues. The chapter reveals the complex dynamics of power and dependency—how those who care for us aren't always the ones making decisions about our lives. Glumdalclitch genuinely loves Gulliver, but she's powerless to protect him from her father's schemes. Meanwhile, Gulliver maintains his dignity by reframing his situation: he tells himself that even the King of England would face the same humiliation if shrunk down. This psychological survival strategy—finding ways to preserve self-respect in degrading circumstances—becomes crucial as his exploitation intensifies. The journey toward the capital represents his transition from private curiosity to public spectacle, setting up bigger challenges ahead.
Coming Up in Chapter 11
Arriving in the capital city brings Gulliver face-to-face with even larger crowds and greater dangers. His performances catch the attention of people far more powerful than country farmers—but will this mean rescue or an even more elaborate form of captivity?
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
A description of the farmer’s daughter. The author carried to a market-town, and then to the metropolis. The particulars of his journey. My mistress had a daughter of nine years old, a child of towardly parts for her age, very dexterous at her needle, and skilful in dressing her baby. Her mother and she contrived to fit up the baby’s cradle for me against night: the cradle was put into a small drawer of a cabinet, and the drawer placed upon a hanging shelf for fear of the rats. This was my bed all the time I staid with those people, though made more convenient by degrees, as I began to learn their language and make my wants known. This young girl was so handy, that after I had once or twice pulled off my clothes before her, she was able to dress and undress me, though I never gave her that trouble when she would let me do either myself. She made me seven shirts, and some other linen, of as fine cloth as could be got, which indeed was coarser than sackcloth; and these she constantly washed for me with her own hands. She was likewise my school-mistress, to teach me the language: when I pointed to any thing, she told me the name of it in her own tongue, so that in a few days I was able to call for whatever I had a mind to. She was very good-natured, and not above forty feet high, being little for her age. She gave me the name of _Grildrig_, which the family took up, and afterwards the whole kingdom. The word imports what the Latins call _nanunculus_, the Italians _homunceletino_, and the English _mannikin_. To her I chiefly owe my preservation in that country: we never parted while I was there; I called her my _Glumdalclitch_, or little nurse; and should be guilty of great ingratitude, if I omitted this honourable mention of her care and affection towards me, which I heartily wish it lay in my power to requite as she deserves, instead of being the innocent, but unhappy instrument of her disgrace, as I have too much reason to fear. It now began to be known and talked of in the neighbourhood, that my master had found a strange animal in the field, about the bigness of a _splacnuck_, but exactly shaped in every part like a human creature; which it likewise imitated in all its actions; seemed to speak in a little language of its own, had already learned several words of theirs, went erect upon two legs, was tame and gentle, would come when it was called, do whatever it was bid, had the finest limbs in the world, and a complexion fairer than a nobleman’s daughter of three years old. Another farmer, who lived hard by, and was a particular friend of my master, came on a visit on purpose to inquire into the truth of this story. I was immediately produced,...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Loving Powerlessness
When those who care most about us lack the power to protect us from those who control our circumstances.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between those who care about you and those who control your circumstances—a crucial survival skill in hierarchical workplaces.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone expresses concern for you but can't actually change your situation—map who in your workplace or family actually makes the decisions that affect your life.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Exploitation
Using someone's unique situation or abilities to make money without caring about their wellbeing or dignity. The farmer sees Gulliver as a walking ATM, not a person with feelings.
Modern Usage:
Social media influencers exploiting their kids for content, or employers overworking their best employees because they know they'll deliver.
Dependency relationship
When someone relies completely on another person for basic needs, creating an unequal power dynamic. Gulliver needs Glumdalclitch for everything - food, clothes, protection, communication.
Modern Usage:
Elderly parents depending on adult children, or undocumented workers depending on employers who might exploit that vulnerability.
Commodification
Turning a person into a product to be bought and sold. Gulliver becomes entertainment, a curiosity to be displayed for profit rather than treated as a human being.
Modern Usage:
Reality TV turning people's personal struggles into entertainment, or the way social media can turn our private lives into content for likes.
Protective intermediary
Someone who stands between you and harm, but has limited power themselves. Glumdalclitch loves Gulliver and tries to shield him, but she's just a child with no real authority.
Modern Usage:
A middle manager trying to protect their team from upper management decisions, or a teacher advocating for students against school policies.
Dignity preservation
Mental strategies people use to maintain self-respect in humiliating situations. Gulliver tells himself even a king would face the same treatment if shrunk down.
Modern Usage:
How people working degrading jobs remind themselves it's temporary, or how anyone in a powerless situation finds ways to protect their sense of self-worth.
Spectacle culture
The human tendency to pay money to gawk at anything unusual or different. The crowds pay to see Gulliver perform tricks because he's a novelty.
Modern Usage:
Viral videos of people in unusual situations, freak shows, or how we turn other people's differences into entertainment on social media.
Characters in This Chapter
Glumdalclitch
Protective caregiver
The nine-year-old girl who becomes Gulliver's only source of genuine care and protection. She teaches him the language, makes him clothes, and treats him with real affection despite the size difference.
Modern Equivalent:
The one coworker who actually has your back
The farmer (Glumdalclitch's father)
Opportunistic exploiter
Sees Gulliver as a money-making opportunity and forces him to perform tricks for paying crowds, despite his daughter's protests. Represents pure capitalist exploitation.
Modern Equivalent:
The boss who overworks their best employee
Gulliver
Reluctant performer
Completely dependent on others for survival, forced to entertain crowds for money while trying to maintain his dignity and sense of self in increasingly humiliating circumstances.
Modern Equivalent:
Someone stuck in a job that demeans them but pays the bills
Key Quotes & Analysis
"She was very good-natured, and not above forty feet high, being little for her age."
Context: Gulliver describing Glumdalclitch with obvious affection
Shows how perspective completely changes everything - this 'little' girl is still eight times taller than Gulliver. It also reveals his genuine fondness for someone who treats him with kindness.
In Today's Words:
She was really sweet, and only about forty feet tall, which was small for a nine-year-old.
"My master, to avoid a crowd, would take me in his hand, and set me on a table, where I walked as he commanded."
Context: Describing how Gulliver is forced to perform for audiences
The word 'commanded' shows the complete power imbalance and how Gulliver has become a performing object. The clinical tone hides the humiliation of being treated like a trained animal.
In Today's Words:
My boss would put me on display and make me do tricks for the crowd.
"Nothing angered and mortified me so much as the queen's dwarf, who being of the lowest stature that was ever in that country, became insolent upon seeing a creature so much beneath him."
Context: Later in the chapter when Gulliver encounters someone who bullies him
Shows how people who are marginalized themselves often punch down at those with even less power. The dwarf uses Gulliver to feel superior, revealing how hierarchies of oppression work.
In Today's Words:
Nothing pissed me off more than this short guy who finally found someone smaller to pick on.
Thematic Threads
Power
In This Chapter
The father holds ultimate authority over Gulliver's fate despite Glumdalclitch's emotional bond with him
Development
Evolved from physical powerlessness in Lilliput to emotional powerlessness here
In Your Life:
You might see this when your supervisor wants to help you but can't override upper management decisions.
Dependency
In This Chapter
Gulliver depends on Glumdalclitch for care, but she depends on her father for permission
Development
Dependency has become more complex and emotionally layered than simple physical survival
In Your Life:
This appears when you rely on someone who themselves must answer to someone else.
Exploitation
In This Chapter
The father commodifies Gulliver as entertainment, forcing degrading performances for profit
Development
Shifted from political manipulation in Lilliput to economic exploitation here
In Your Life:
You experience this when family members or employers profit from your circumstances while you bear the costs.
Dignity
In This Chapter
Gulliver maintains self-respect by imagining even kings would face the same humiliation if miniaturized
Development
Introduced here as a psychological survival mechanism
In Your Life:
This shows up when you preserve your sense of self-worth despite being in demeaning situations.
Identity
In This Chapter
Gulliver transforms from private curiosity to public spectacle, losing control over how he's perceived
Development
Identity continues to be shaped by external forces rather than self-determination
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when your reputation or role gets defined by others rather than your own choices.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Glumdalclitch's father ignore her tears and protests when he decides to take Gulliver on tour?
analysis • surface - 2
How does the relationship between Glumdalclitch and her father create an impossible situation for Gulliver?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this pattern today—someone who cares about you lacking the power to protect you from someone who controls your situation?
application • medium - 4
When you're caught between someone who loves you but can't help and someone with power who doesn't care, what's your best strategy?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about the difference between caring and controlling in relationships?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Power Triangle
Think of a current situation where you feel stuck or exploited. Draw three circles representing you, someone who genuinely cares about you, and someone who has decision-making power over your situation. Draw lines showing who depends on whom and who has authority over whom. Write one sentence describing each person's primary motivation.
Consider:
- •The person with power may not be the obvious authority figure—sometimes it's whoever controls the money or information
- •The caring person might be stuck in their own power triangle with someone else
- •Your best strategy might involve building a direct relationship with the decision-maker rather than working through the caring person
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone who cared about you couldn't protect you from someone else's decision. What did you learn about navigating these triangular power dynamics?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 11: From Slave to Court Favorite
As the story unfolds, you'll explore to navigate power dynamics when you're the underdog, while uncovering the art of strategic self-advocacy in new environments. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.