An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 2225 words)
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, and placed upon a
table, where I walked as I was commanded, drew my hanger, put it up
again, made my reverence to my master’s guest, asked him in his own
language how he did, and told him he was welcome, just as my little
nurse had instructed me. This man, who was old and dim-sighted, put on
his spectacles to behold me better; at which I could not forbear
laughing very heartily, for his eyes appeared like the full moon
shining into a chamber at two windows. Our people, who discovered the
cause of my mirth, bore me company in laughing, at which the old fellow
was fool enough to be angry and out of countenance. He had the
character of a great miser; and, to my misfortune, he well deserved it,
by the cursed advice he gave my master, to show me as a sight upon a
market-day in the next town, which was half an hour’s riding, about
two-and-twenty miles from our house. I guessed there was some mischief
when I observed my master and his friend whispering together, sometimes
pointing at me; and my fears made me fancy that I overheard and
understood some of their words. But the next morning Glumdalclitch, my
little nurse, told me the whole matter, which she had cunningly picked
out from her mother. The poor girl laid me on her bosom, and fell a
weeping with shame and grief. She apprehended some mischief would
happen to me from rude vulgar folks, who might squeeze me to death, or
break one of my limbs by taking me in their hands. She had also
observed how modest I was in my nature, how nicely I regarded my
honour, and what an indignity I should conceive it, to be exposed for
money as a public spectacle, to the meanest of the people. She said,
her papa and mamma had promised that Grildrig should be hers; but now
she found they meant to serve her as they did last year, when they
pretended to give her a lamb, and yet, as soon as it was fat, sold it
to a butcher. For my own part, I may truly affirm, that I was less
concerned than my nurse. I had a strong hope, which never left me, that
I should one day recover my liberty: and as to the ignominy of being
carried about for a monster, I considered myself to be a perfect
stranger in the country, and that such a misfortune could never be
charged upon me as a reproach, if ever I should return to England,
since the king of Great Britain himself, in my condition, must have
undergone the same distress.
My master, pursuant to the advice of his friend, carried me in a box
the next market-day to the neighbouring town, and took along with him
his little daughter, my nurse, upon a pillion behind him. The box was
close on every side, with a little door for me to go in and out, and a
few gimlet holes to let in air. The girl had been so careful as to put
the quilt of her baby’s bed into it, for me to lie down on. However, I
was terribly shaken and discomposed in this journey, though it was but
of half an hour: for the horse went about forty feet at every step and
trotted so high, that the agitation was equal to the rising and falling
of a ship in a great storm, but much more frequent. Our journey was
somewhat farther than from London to St. Alban’s. My master alighted at
an inn which he used to frequent; and after consulting a while with the
inn-keeper, and making some necessary preparations, he hired the
grultrud, or crier, to give notice through the town of a strange
creature to be seen at the sign of the Green Eagle, not so big as a
splacnuck (an animal in that country very finely shaped, about six
feet long,) and in every part of the body resembling a human creature,
could speak several words, and perform a hundred diverting tricks.
I was placed upon a table in the largest room of the inn, which might
be near three hundred feet square. My little nurse stood on a low stool
close to the table, to take care of me, and direct what I should do. My
master, to avoid a crowd, would suffer only thirty people at a time to
see me. I walked about on the table as the girl commanded; she asked me
questions, as far as she knew my understanding of the language reached,
and I answered them as loud as I could. I turned about several times to
the company, paid my humble respects, said they were welcome, and
used some other speeches I had been taught. I took up a thimble filled
with liquor, which Glumdalclitch had given me for a cup, and drank
their health, I drew out my hanger, and flourished with it after the
manner of fencers in England. My nurse gave me a part of a straw, which
I exercised as a pike, having learnt the art in my youth. I was that
day shown to twelve sets of company, and as often forced to act over
again the same fopperies, till I was half dead with weariness and
vexation; for those who had seen me made such wonderful reports, that
the people were ready to break down the doors to come in. My master,
for his own interest, would not suffer any one to touch me except my
nurse; and to prevent danger, benches were set round the table at such
a distance as to put me out of every body’s reach. However, an unlucky
school-boy aimed a hazel nut directly at my head, which very narrowly
missed me; otherwise it came with so much violence, that it would have
infallibly knocked out my brains, for it was almost as large as a small
pumpkin, but I had the satisfaction to see the young rogue well beaten,
and turned out of the room.
My master gave public notice that he would show me again the next
market-day; and in the meantime he prepared a convenient vehicle for
me, which he had reason enough to do; for I was so tired with my first
journey, and with entertaining company for eight hours together, that I
could hardly stand upon my legs, or speak a word. It was at least three
days before I recovered my strength; and that I might have no rest at
home, all the neighbouring gentlemen from a hundred miles round,
hearing of my fame, came to see me at my master’s own house. There
could not be fewer than thirty persons with their wives and children
(for the country is very populous;) and my master demanded the rate of
a full room whenever he showed me at home, although it were only to a
single family; so that for some time I had but little ease every day of
the week (except Wednesday, which is their Sabbath,) although I were
not carried to the town.
My master, finding how profitable I was likely to be, resolved to carry
me to the most considerable cities of the kingdom. Having therefore
provided himself with all things necessary for a long journey, and
settled his affairs at home, he took leave of his wife, and upon the
17th of August, 1703, about two months after my arrival, we set out for
the metropolis, situated near the middle of that empire, and about
three thousand miles distance from our house. My master made his
daughter Glumdalclitch ride behind him. She carried me on her lap, in a
box tied about her waist. The girl had lined it on all sides with the
softest cloth she could get, well quilted underneath, furnished it with
her baby’s bed, provided me with linen and other necessaries, and made
everything as convenient as she could. We had no other company but a
boy of the house, who rode after us with the luggage.
My master’s design was to show me in all the towns by the way, and to
step out of the road for fifty or a hundred miles, to any village, or
person of quality’s house, where he might expect custom. We made easy
journeys, of not above seven or eight score miles a day; for
Glumdalclitch, on purpose to spare me, complained she was tired with
the trotting of the horse. She often took me out of my box, at my own
desire, to give me air, and show me the country, but always held me
fast by a leading-string. We passed over five or six rivers, many
degrees broader and deeper than the Nile or the Ganges: and there was
hardly a rivulet so small as the Thames at London Bridge. We were ten
weeks in our journey, and I was shown in eighteen large towns, besides
many villages, and private families.
On the 26th day of October we arrived at the metropolis, called in
their language Lorbrulgrud, or Pride of the Universe. My master took
a lodging in the principal street of the city, not far from the royal
palace, and put out bills in the usual form, containing an exact
description of my person and parts. He hired a large room between three
and four hundred feet wide. He provided a table sixty feet in diameter,
upon which I was to act my part, and pallisadoed it round three feet
from the edge, and as many high, to prevent my falling over. I was
shown ten times a day, to the wonder and satisfaction of all people. I
could now speak the language tolerably well, and perfectly understood
every word, that was spoken to me. Besides, I had learnt their
alphabet, and could make a shift to explain a sentence here and there;
for Glumdalclitch had been my instructor while we were at home, and at
leisure hours during our journey. She carried a little book in her
pocket, not much larger than a Sanson’s Atlas; it was a common treatise
for the use of young girls, giving a short account of their religion:
out of this she taught me my letters, and interpreted the words.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
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.
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
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?
