Wednesday, August 24, 2016

How was Gulliver treated by the farmer's daughter?

Gulliver is treated quite well by the farmer's young daughter, a girl he calls his "Glumdalclitch," which means little nurse. He says, in fact, that he would

be guilty of great ingratitude, if [he] omitted this honourable mention of her care and affection towards [him], which [he] heartily wish[es] it being in [his] power to requite as she deserves . . . .

When the farmer trots Gulliver around, showing him off and having him perform tricks, Glumdalclitch actually makes him a little box that she's fitted up with the softest cloth she could find, including her own doll baby's bed, so that Gulliver does not get injured from being jostled around too much. She would also complain of her own tiredness so that they'd have to stop, and this would give Gulliver much needed breaks. Glumdalclitch also uses a little religious book that she keeps in her pocket to teach Gulliver how to read and understand their language. She even goes with him to the royal court when the farmer turns Gulliver over to the king and queen; Glumdalclitch continues to take great care of him for a long time.


On Brobdingnag, Gulliver is captured by a farmer. As Gulliver is now tiny in respect to the inhabitants of Brobdingnag, the farmer appears to him as a giant. The farmer is fascinated by this strange little creature and thinks that it would be a perfect plaything for his 9-year-old daughter. Glumdalclitch, as Gulliver calls her, is deeply enamored of her new toy, treating him like her own little pet. But as well as making clothes for little Gulliver, Glumdalclitch is fiercely protective towards her living doll. Her father wants to take Gulliver out on the road as part of a freak show; he thinks—rightly, as it turns out—that he can make a lot of money out of his novelty act. Gulliver enjoys performing for the sake of Glumdalclitch, but all that touring inevitably takes it toll, and he becomes exhausted with the constant traveling. Glumdalclitch realizes this, and she gets her father to travel slowly to make things a little easier for her favorite toy. Gulliver never forgets Glumdalclitch for her loving kindness and fondly remembers her after he's returned to England.

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