The Theme of Science and Technology

The role of scientific and technological knowledge in the two kingdoms, from Lilliputian mathematics to Brobdingnagian practicality.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Lilliputian Mathematics and Mechanics

The Practical Science The Quadrant Measurement The Lilliputian mathematicians use a quadrant to measure Gulliver's height and calculate his food allowance based on the proportion of twelve to one. They are exact in their computations. The Transporting Engine The emperor's engineers build a large machine on wheels to transport Gulliver. They use pulleys, poles, and ropes. The operation is a feat of mechanics. The Limitations Despite their skill, they cannot harm Gulliver with their arrows. Their technology is scaled to their size. Gulliver's own technology (spectacles, watch) is foreign to them. The watch is considered an oracle or a god.

The Brobdingnagian Rejection of Gunpowder

The Moral Rejection of Technology The Offer Gulliver, proud of European invention, offers to teach the king how to make gunpowder and cannons. He describes their destructive power, expecting gratitude. The King's Response The king is horrified. He calls the idea inhuman and refuses to learn it. He would rather lose half his kingdom than be privy to such a secret. He commands Gulliver never to mention it again. The Satirical Point Swift uses this episode to satirize the European obsession with military technology. The Brobdingnagian king represents a rational, humane alternative. The rejection of gunpowder is a moral stand against the destructive potential of science.

Gulliver's Own Technical Skills

The Practical Inventor The Comb and Chairs Gulliver uses his mechanical genius to make a comb from the king's beard stumps and chairs from the queen's hair. He also makes a purse. These are small but useful items. The Boat and Spinet He directs the building of a boat and a spinet. He improvises a method to play the spinet with sticks. His ingenuity is a constant theme. The Contrast Gulliver's technology is for personal survival and entertainment, not for destruction. The contrast with the gunpowder offer highlights the moral choices involved in technological development. Swift seems to favor practical, non-destructive technology.

1699-1701, in Lilliput

1705, in Brobdingnag

throughout both voyages