Summary
Gulliver gets his first real look at Lilliputian society, and it's both magnificent and ridiculous. After gaining permission to visit the capital city Mildendo, he carefully navigates the tiny streets, trying not to crush anyone or anything. The emperor's palace requires creative problem-solving - Gulliver has to make wooden stools to step over the walls without destroying them. But the real eye-opener comes when the emperor's secretary, Reldresal, reveals the empire's problems. Two political parties are locked in bitter conflict over whether people should wear high-heeled or low-heeled shoes. Even more absurd, Lilliput has been at war with neighboring Blefuscu for thirty-six years over which end of an egg should be cracked first - the big end or the little end. Thousands have died over this 'religious' dispute. Swift is clearly mocking the petty political and religious conflicts of his own time, showing how trivial differences can escalate into life-and-death struggles when people lose perspective. The secretary asks Gulliver to help defend against Blefuscu's planned invasion. Gulliver agrees to help defend the emperor but wisely refuses to take sides in the political disputes. This chapter brilliantly illustrates how conflicts that seem earth-shattering to those involved often appear ridiculous to outside observers. It's a masterclass in recognizing when we're getting worked up over things that don't really matter.
Coming Up in Chapter 5
Gulliver's about to put his giant size to work in ways the tiny Lilliputians never imagined. His solution to their naval crisis will be both ingenious and controversial, setting up conflicts that will change everything.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Mildendo, the metropolis of Lilliput, described, together with the emperor’s palace. A conversation between the author and a principal secretary, concerning the affairs of that empire. The author’s offers to serve the emperor in his wars. The first request I made, after I had obtained my liberty, was, that I might have license to see Mildendo, the metropolis; which the emperor easily granted me, but with a special charge to do no hurt either to the inhabitants or their houses. The people had notice, by proclamation, of my design to visit the town. The wall which encompassed it is two feet and a half high, and at least eleven inches broad, so that a coach and horses may be driven very safely round it; and it is flanked with strong towers at ten feet distance. I stepped over the great western gate, and passed very gently, and sidling, through the two principal streets, only in my short waistcoat, for fear of damaging the roofs and eaves of the houses with the skirts of my coat. I walked with the utmost circumspection, to avoid treading on any stragglers who might remain in the streets, although the orders were very strict, that all people should keep in their houses, at their own peril. The garret windows and tops of houses were so crowded with spectators, that I thought in all my travels I had not seen a more populous place. The city is an exact square, each side of the wall being five hundred feet long. The two great streets, which run across and divide it into four quarters, are five feet wide. The lanes and alleys, which I could not enter, but only view them as I passed, are from twelve to eighteen inches. The town is capable of holding five hundred thousand souls: the houses are from three to five stories: the shops and markets well provided. The emperor’s palace is in the centre of the city where the two great streets meet. It is enclosed by a wall of two feet high, and twenty feet distance from the buildings. I had his majesty’s permission to step over this wall; and, the space being so wide between that and the palace, I could easily view it on every side. The outward court is a square of forty feet, and includes two other courts: in the inmost are the royal apartments, which I was very desirous to see, but found it extremely difficult; for the great gates, from one square into another, were but eighteen inches high, and seven inches wide. Now the buildings of the outer court were at least five feet high, and it was impossible for me to stride over them without infinite damage to the pile, though the walls were strongly built of hewn stone, and four inches thick. At the same time the emperor had a great desire that I should see the magnificence of his palace; but this I was not able to do till...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Manufactured Enemies - How Small Differences Become Big Wars
Minor differences get artificially escalated into existential conflicts to distract from real issues or maintain power structures.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when trivial differences are being weaponized to distract from real problems.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when workplace or family arguments seem to escalate beyond what the actual issue warrants—ask what bigger problem might be getting ignored.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Satire
A literary technique where the author uses humor, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's vices or society's problems. Swift isn't just telling a funny story - he's using the absurd conflicts in Lilliput to mock the petty political and religious disputes of his own time.
Modern Usage:
We see satire everywhere today, from Saturday Night Live skits about politicians to movies like 'Don't Look Up' that use comedy to criticize how we handle serious issues.
Political allegory
A story where characters and events represent real political figures and situations from the author's time. The High-Heels vs Low-Heels conflict represents the Whig and Tory political parties in Swift's England, while the Big-Endian vs Little-Endian war mocks Protestant vs Catholic religious disputes.
Modern Usage:
Modern political allegories include movies like 'The Hunger Games' representing class warfare, or TV shows that use fantasy settings to comment on current politics.
Circumspection
Being extremely careful and thoughtful about your actions to avoid causing harm or offense. Gulliver walks through the city with 'utmost circumspection' because one wrong step could crush people or buildings.
Modern Usage:
We practice circumspection when navigating sensitive workplace situations, family conflicts, or any time we need to be careful not to make things worse.
Perspective
Your point of view or way of seeing things, which can completely change how important something seems. What looks like a massive, earth-shattering conflict to the Lilliputians appears petty and ridiculous to the giant Gulliver.
Modern Usage:
Getting perspective helps us realize when we're making mountains out of molehills, like when workplace drama seems huge until you step back and see the bigger picture.
Factional politics
When political groups become so focused on opposing each other that they lose sight of actually solving problems. The High-Heels and Low-Heels are more interested in defeating each other than in governing effectively.
Modern Usage:
We see factional politics today when political parties seem more focused on 'winning' against the other side than on actually helping people or solving real problems.
Religious schism
A split or division within a religious community over doctrine or practice. The Big-Endian vs Little-Endian war represents how religious groups can fight bitterly over what outsiders see as minor differences in interpretation.
Modern Usage:
Religious schisms still happen today when denominations split over issues like women in leadership, same-sex marriage, or different interpretations of scripture.
Characters in This Chapter
Gulliver
Protagonist and observer
He carefully explores the Lilliputian capital, showing both physical caution and diplomatic wisdom. When asked to take sides in political disputes, he agrees to help defend against invasion but refuses to get involved in internal conflicts.
Modern Equivalent:
The new employee who helps during a crisis but wisely stays out of office politics
The Emperor of Lilliput
Ruler seeking military aid
He grants Gulliver permission to visit the capital and seeks his help against Blefuscu. His willingness to use Gulliver's size for military advantage shows how leaders often focus on power rather than solving underlying problems.
Modern Equivalent:
The boss who wants to use your skills to win against competitors but ignores internal company problems
Reldresal
Principal Secretary and political informant
He explains the empire's political divisions and military threats to Gulliver. His serious presentation of absurd conflicts shows how people can become completely invested in trivial disputes.
Modern Equivalent:
The coworker who earnestly explains why the office coffee vs tea debate is actually a serious philosophical divide
The High-Heels and Low-Heels
Opposing political factions
These groups are locked in bitter conflict over shoe heel height, representing how political parties can make any difference a source of division. Their dispute paralyzes effective governance.
Modern Equivalent:
Political parties that fight more about party loyalty than about actually solving problems
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I walked with the utmost circumspection, to avoid treading on any stragglers who might remain in the streets"
Context: Gulliver describes his careful movement through the Lilliputian capital
This shows Gulliver's awareness of his power and his responsibility to use it carefully. It's a metaphor for how those with advantages - size, wealth, influence - should be mindful of how their actions affect others.
In Today's Words:
I was super careful not to accidentally hurt anyone because I knew how much damage I could do.
"It began upon the following occasion. It is allowed on all hands, that the primitive way of breaking eggs, before we eat them, was upon the larger end"
Context: The secretary explains the origin of the war between Lilliput and Blefuscu
This reveals how the most destructive conflicts often start over the smallest differences. Swift is mocking how religious and political disputes escalate from minor disagreements into life-and-death struggles.
In Today's Words:
This whole war started because we couldn't agree on the 'right' way to crack an egg.
"His majesty desires you would take some other opportunity of bringing all the rest of his enemy's ships into his ports"
Context: The Emperor wants Gulliver to capture the entire Blefuscu fleet
This shows how leaders often want to use available power to completely dominate opponents rather than seek reasonable solutions. The Emperor sees Gulliver as a weapon rather than a mediator.
In Today's Words:
The boss wants you to use your advantage to completely crush the competition, not just solve the immediate problem.
Thematic Threads
Power
In This Chapter
The emperor uses trivial conflicts to maintain control and justify his authority over life-and-death decisions
Development
Evolved from earlier shows of imperial pageantry to reveal how power manufactures its own necessity
In Your Life:
You might see this when managers create unnecessary drama to appear essential, or when family members escalate small disputes to maintain their position as decision-makers.
Perspective
In This Chapter
Gulliver's outsider view reveals how absurd the Lilliputians' deadly serious conflicts actually are
Development
Building from his physical outsider status to his role as cultural observer
In Your Life:
You gain this clarity when you step back from heated workplace conflicts or family arguments and realize how trivial the actual stakes are.
Identity
In This Chapter
Lilliputians define themselves entirely by arbitrary markers like shoe heels and egg-cracking preferences
Development
Introduced here as Swift explores how societies create artificial identity markers
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself defining your worth by brand preferences, political labels, or other surface-level choices that don't reflect your actual values.
Class
In This Chapter
Political parties form around high heels versus low heels, turning fashion into class warfare
Development
Evolved from individual class markers to systemic class conflict
In Your Life:
You see this when workplace hierarchies get reinforced through dress codes, car choices, or neighborhood preferences that have nothing to do with job performance.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Citizens are expected to die for causes they didn't choose, following leaders' manufactured principles
Development
Developed from earlier emphasis on ceremony to show how expectations can become deadly serious
In Your Life:
You might feel this pressure to defend positions publicly that you privately question, or to maintain loyalty to groups whose actual goals you don't understand.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What are the Lilliputians fighting about, and how long have these conflicts been going on?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do you think Swift chose such ridiculous things for people to fight over - shoe heels and egg-cracking methods?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see similar manufactured conflicts in your workplace, family, or community - fights over small differences that seem huge to the people involved?
application • medium - 4
How can you tell the difference between a conflict worth engaging in and one that's just a distraction from real problems?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how people in power use trivial differences to maintain control?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Spot the Manufactured Conflict
Think of a recent argument or conflict in your life - at work, in your family, or online. Write down what people were supposedly fighting about, then dig deeper: what were the real underlying issues? What actual problems might this conflict be distracting from? Finally, identify who benefits from keeping people focused on this surface-level disagreement instead of addressing root causes.
Consider:
- •The most passionate arguments often involve the smallest actual stakes
- •Ask who has power to gain or lose if people stopped fighting over this issue
- •Consider what resources, attention, or energy this conflict is consuming
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you got pulled into a fight that seemed important at the moment but later realized was pointless. What would you do differently now to avoid manufactured conflicts?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 5: The Hero's Dangerous Success
In the next chapter, you'll discover success can create new enemies and political dangers, and learn refusing to enable a leader's worst impulses has consequences. These insights reveal timeless patterns that resonate in our own lives and relationships.