The Conflict Between Gulliver and the Brobdingnagian Dwarf

The personal animosity between Gulliver and the queen's dwarf, leading to several dangerous pranks and the dwarf's eventual banishment.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Dwarf's Insolence

The Beginning of Hostility The Mockery The dwarf, being the smallest in the country (about thirty feet high), is jealous of Gulliver's even smaller size. He swaggers and looks big, and he often makes smart remarks about Gulliver's littleness. Gulliver retorts by calling him brother and challenging him to wrestle. The Marrow-Bone Trick The dwarf wedges Gulliver's legs into a marrow-bone, leaving him stuck for a minute. The queen laughs, but the dwarf is whipped. Gulliver intercedes to spare him further punishment. This shows the dwarf's malice and Gulliver's generosity. The Escalation The dwarf's resentment grows. He is determined to humiliate Gulliver further. The pranks are not just jokes; they express real hostility.

The Dwarf Drops Gulliver into the Cream Bowl

The Dangerous Prank The Attack While Gulliver is sitting at the table, the dwarf, nettled by something Gulliver said, raises himself on the queen's chair, takes Gulliver, and drops him into a large silver bowl of cream. Gulliver falls over head and ears, swallowing cream. The Rescue Glumdalclitch is at the other end of the room, and the queen is in a fright. Gulliver manages to swim until his nurse fetches him out. He is put to bed but loses a suit of clothes. The Punishment The dwarf is soundly whipped and forced to drink the bowl of cream. He is never restored to favor. The queen gives him away to a lady of high quality. Gulliver is relieved to see him go.

The Apple Incident

The Revenge The Provocation Gulliver, walking under some dwarf apple-trees, makes a silly allusion between the dwarf and the trees. The dwarf is offended and shakes the tree, causing a dozen apples, each as large as a Bristol barrel, to fall on Gulliver. One hits him on the back and knocks him down. The Aftermath Gulliver is not hurt, and he asks the queen to pardon the dwarf. The dwarf is spared again, but his malice is unabated. This incident shows that the conflict is ongoing. The End of the Conflict The dwarf's final prank with the cream bowl leads to his banishment. The conflict ends with the dwarf's removal. Gulliver wins by default, but the dwarf's enmity was a serious threat to his safety.

early 1704, at court

1704, at dinner

before the queen banished the dwarf, 1704