An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1795 words)
he country described. A proposal for correcting modern maps. The
king’s palace; and some account of the metropolis. The author’s way of
travelling. The chief temple described.
I now intend to give the reader a short description of this country, as
far as I travelled in it, which was not above two thousand miles round
Lorbrulgrud, the metropolis. For the queen, whom I always attended,
never went farther when she accompanied the king in his progresses, and
there staid till his majesty returned from viewing his frontiers. The
whole extent of this prince’s dominions reaches about six thousand
miles in length, and from three to five in breadth: whence I cannot but
conclude, that our geographers of Europe are in a great error, by
supposing nothing but sea between Japan and California; for it was ever
my opinion, that there must be a balance of earth to counterpoise the
great continent of Tartary; and therefore they ought to correct their
maps and charts, by joining this vast tract of land to the north-west
parts of America, wherein I shall be ready to lend them my assistance.
The kingdom is a peninsula, terminated to the north-east by a ridge of
mountains thirty miles high, which are altogether impassable, by reason
of the volcanoes upon the tops: neither do the most learned know what
sort of mortals inhabit beyond those mountains, or whether they be
inhabited at all. On the three other sides, it is bounded by the ocean.
There is not one seaport in the whole kingdom: and those parts of the
coasts into which the rivers issue, are so full of pointed rocks, and
the sea generally so rough, that there is no venturing with the
smallest of their boats; so that these people are wholly excluded from
any commerce with the rest of the world. But the large rivers are full
of vessels, and abound with excellent fish; for they seldom get any
from the sea, because the sea fish are of the same size with those in
Europe, and consequently not worth catching; whereby it is manifest,
that nature, in the production of plants and animals of so
extraordinary a bulk, is wholly confined to this continent, of which I
leave the reasons to be determined by philosophers. However, now and
then they take a whale that happens to be dashed against the rocks,
which the common people feed on heartily. These whales I have known so
large, that a man could hardly carry one upon his shoulders; and
sometimes, for curiosity, they are brought in hampers to Lorbrulgrud; I
saw one of them in a dish at the king’s table, which passed for a
rarity, but I did not observe he was fond of it; for I think, indeed,
the bigness disgusted him, although I have seen one somewhat larger in
Greenland.
The country is well inhabited, for it contains fifty-one cities, near a
hundred walled towns, and a great number of villages. To satisfy my
curious reader, it may be sufficient to describe Lorbrulgrud. This city
stands upon almost two equal parts, on each side the river that passes
through. It contains above eighty thousand houses, and about six
hundred thousand inhabitants. It is in length three glomglungs (which
make about fifty-four English miles,) and two and a half in breadth; as
I measured it myself in the royal map made by the king’s order, which
was laid on the ground on purpose for me, and extended a hundred feet:
I paced the diameter and circumference several times barefoot, and,
computing by the scale, measured it pretty exactly.
The king’s palace is no regular edifice, but a heap of buildings, about
seven miles round: the chief rooms are generally two hundred and forty
feet high, and broad and long in proportion. A coach was allowed to
Glumdalclitch and me, wherein her governess frequently took her out to
see the town, or go among the shops; and I was always of the party,
carried in my box; although the girl, at my own desire, would often
take me out, and hold me in her hand, that I might more conveniently
view the houses and the people, as we passed along the streets. I
reckoned our coach to be about a square of Westminster-hall, but not
altogether so high: however, I cannot be very exact. One day the
governess ordered our coachman to stop at several shops, where the
beggars, watching their opportunity, crowded to the sides of the coach,
and gave me the most horrible spectacle that ever a European eye
beheld. There was a woman with a cancer in her breast, swelled to a
monstrous size, full of holes, in two or three of which I could have
easily crept, and covered my whole body. There was a fellow with a wen
in his neck, larger than five wool-packs; and another, with a couple of
wooden legs, each about twenty feet high. But the most hateful sight of
all, was the lice crawling on their clothes. I could see distinctly the
limbs of these vermin with my naked eye, much better than those of a
European louse through a microscope, and their snouts with which they
rooted like swine. They were the first I had ever beheld, and I should
have been curious enough to dissect one of them, if I had had proper
instruments, which I unluckily left behind me in the ship, although,
indeed, the sight was so nauseous, that it perfectly turned my stomach.
Besides the large box in which I was usually carried, the queen ordered
a smaller one to be made for me, of about twelve feet square, and ten
high, for the convenience of travelling; because the other was somewhat
too large for Glumdalclitch’s lap, and cumbersome in the coach; it was
made by the same artist, whom I directed in the whole contrivance. This
travelling-closet was an exact square, with a window in the middle of
three of the squares, and each window was latticed with iron wire on
the outside, to prevent accidents in long journeys. On the fourth side,
which had no window, two strong staples were fixed, through which the
person that carried me, when I had a mind to be on horseback, put a
leathern belt, and buckled it about his waist. This was always the
office of some grave trusty servant, in whom I could confide, whether I
attended the king and queen in their progresses, or were disposed to
see the gardens, or pay a visit to some great lady or minister of state
in the court, when Glumdalclitch happened to be out of order; for I
soon began to be known and esteemed among the greatest officers, I
suppose more upon account of their majesties’ favour, than any merit of
my own. In journeys, when I was weary of the coach, a servant on
horseback would buckle on my box, and place it upon a cushion before
him; and there I had a full prospect of the country on three sides,
from my three windows. I had, in this closet, a field-bed and a
hammock, hung from the ceiling, two chairs and a table, neatly screwed
to the floor, to prevent being tossed about by the agitation of the
horse or the coach. And having been long used to sea-voyages, those
motions, although sometimes very violent, did not much discompose me.
Whenever I had a mind to see the town, it was always in my
travelling-closet; which Glumdalclitch held in her lap in a kind of
open sedan, after the fashion of the country, borne by four men, and
attended by two others in the queen’s livery. The people, who had often
heard of me, were very curious to crowd about the sedan, and the girl
was complaisant enough to make the bearers stop, and to take me in her
hand, that I might be more conveniently seen.
I was very desirous to see the chief temple, and particularly the tower
belonging to it, which is reckoned the highest in the kingdom.
Accordingly one day my nurse carried me thither, but I may truly say I
came back disappointed; for the height is not above three thousand
feet, reckoning from the ground to the highest pinnacle top; which,
allowing for the difference between the size of those people and us in
Europe, is no great matter for admiration, nor at all equal in
proportion (if I rightly remember) to Salisbury steeple. But, not to
detract from a nation, to which, during my life, I shall acknowledge
myself extremely obliged, it must be allowed, that whatever this famous
tower wants in height, is amply made up in beauty and strength: for the
walls are near a hundred feet thick, built of hewn stone, whereof each
is about forty feet square, and adorned on all sides with statues of
gods and emperors, cut in marble, larger than the life, placed in their
several niches. I measured a little finger which had fallen down from
one of these statues, and lay unperceived among some rubbish, and found
it exactly four feet and an inch in length. Glumdalclitch wrapped it up
in her handkerchief, and carried it home in her pocket, to keep among
other trinkets, of which the girl was very fond, as children at her age
usually are.
The king’s kitchen is indeed a noble building, vaulted at top, and
about six hundred feet high. The great oven is not so wide, by ten
paces, as the cupola at St. Paul’s: for I measured the latter on
purpose, after my return. But if I should describe the kitchen grate,
the prodigious pots and kettles, the joints of meat turning on the
spits, with many other particulars, perhaps I should be hardly
believed; at least a severe critic would be apt to think I enlarged a
little, as travellers are often suspected to do. To avoid which censure
I fear I have run too much into the other extreme; and that if this
treatise should happen to be translated into the language of
Brobdingnag (which is the general name of that kingdom,) and
transmitted thither, the king and his people would have reason to
complain that I had done them an injury, by a false and diminutive
representation.
His majesty seldom keeps above six hundred horses in his stables: they
are generally from fifty-four to sixty feet high. But, when he goes
abroad on solemn days, he is attended, for state, by a military guard
of five hundred horse, which, indeed, I thought was the most splendid
sight that could be ever beheld, till I saw part of his army in
battalia, whereof I shall find another occasion to speak.
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
Distance creates illusions of perfection that proximity inevitably destroys by revealing the messy details hidden by scale and separation.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to get close enough to any situation to see past the polished presentation to the actual reality underneath.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when something looks perfect from a distance—then find ways to get closer and observe what changes in your perception.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I cannot but conclude, that our geographers of Europe are in a great error, by supposing nothing but sea between Japan and California"
Context: Gulliver is trying to correct European maps based on his discovery of Brobdingnag
This shows how limited perspective creates false certainty. Gulliver thinks he can fix everyone else's maps, but he's just as trapped by his own limited viewpoint as the Europeans he criticizes.
In Today's Words:
Everyone else has been doing this completely wrong - I know better because I've seen what they haven't.
"The most hateful sight of all, was the lice crawling on their clothes"
Context: Describing his horror at seeing the beggars' parasites magnified to visible size
This reveals how distance normally protects us from uncomfortable truths. When forced to see clearly, Gulliver can't ignore the reality of poverty and disease that polite society usually keeps hidden.
In Today's Words:
When you get close enough to really see the problem, it's absolutely disgusting.
"I measured a little finger which had fallen down from one of these statues, and lay unperceived among some rubbish, and found it exactly four feet and an inch in length"
Context: Measuring pieces of the temple to calculate its true proportional size
Gulliver's obsession with measurement shows how we use objective standards to cut through impressive-sounding claims. His scientific approach reveals that 'magnificent' is often just a matter of scale and perspective.
In Today's Words:
I did the math, and it turns out their 'amazing' thing is actually pretty average when you account for size differences.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Gulliver observes how the giants' class system looks different when viewed at their scale—beggars' diseases become horrifyingly visible, while royal grandeur shrinks to ordinary proportions
Development
Building from earlier chapters where Gulliver was the curiosity, now he's the observer seeing how class distinctions rely on distance and perspective
In Your Life:
You might notice how impressive-seeming wealthy people or institutions lose their mystique when you see them up close in everyday situations
Identity
In This Chapter
Gulliver worries his modest account might seem inadequate when translated for giants, showing how identity shifts based on audience and scale
Development
Continues Gulliver's ongoing struggle with how to present himself across different worlds and power dynamics
In Your Life:
You might find yourself constantly adjusting how you present your accomplishments depending on who you're talking to
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
The giants expect their country to impress visitors, but Gulliver's different scale reveals the arbitrary nature of what counts as impressive
Development
Develops the theme of how societies create standards that seem natural but are actually relative and constructed
In Your Life:
You might recognize how your workplace or community has unspoken rules about what's considered impressive that don't hold up under scrutiny
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Gulliver's relationship with the giants changes as he observes them more closely, seeing both their flaws and the reality behind their presentations
Development
Shows how relationships evolve when initial impressions give way to deeper observation and understanding
In Your Life:
You might notice how your opinion of coworkers, neighbors, or friends changes dramatically once you see them in different contexts or under stress
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does Gulliver discover when he gets close enough to examine the giants' 'magnificent' buildings and people?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does the temple that impresses the giants actually seem ordinary to Gulliver when he measures it properly?
analysis • medium - 3
Think of something you admired from a distance—a job, relationship, or place—that disappointed you up close. What details became visible that you couldn't see before?
application • medium - 4
Before making a major decision like taking a job or moving somewhere, how could you get close enough to see the real picture without fully committing?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about why we need both distance and proximity to understand anything fully?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
The Proximity Test
Think of something you're considering—a job opportunity, relationship, major purchase, or life change. List what looks appealing from your current distance. Then imagine you could spend a week experiencing it up close, behind the scenes. What specific details would you want to investigate that aren't visible from the outside?
Consider:
- •What questions would reveal the daily reality versus the polished presentation?
- •Who would you need to talk to besides the people trying to sell you on it?
- •What would you observe during stressful moments rather than ideal conditions?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when getting closer to something you wanted revealed uncomfortable truths. How did you handle the gap between expectation and reality? What did you learn about making decisions with incomplete information?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 13: Size Matters: Navigating Vulnerability in an Oversized World
Gulliver's growing reputation at court leads to his most dangerous encounter yet—a performance that will test whether his small size makes him entertainment or prey.
