Brobdingnagians

Definition

Brobdingnagians are the inhabitants of Brobdingnag, a fictional land depicted in Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels,' characterized by their immense size compared to humans. This exaggerated scale serves as a satirical device that allows Swift to critique human nature, society, and politics by placing the protagonist, Lemuel Gulliver, in a world where he is significantly smaller than the inhabitants, highlighting themes of perspective and the absurdity of human pride.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Brobdingnag is described as a land of giants, where the people are about sixty feet tall, making Gulliver appear as a mere doll in comparison.
2. Swift uses the Brobdingnagians to satirize English society by presenting their straightforward morality and common sense against Gulliver's own flawed perspective.
3. The size difference emphasizes Gulliver's vulnerability and the absurdity of human pretensions when faced with beings much larger than himself.
4. The Brobdingnagians represent an idealized version of humanity, displaying virtues like honesty and simplicity, contrasting sharply with the corrupt nature of European society as depicted through Gulliver's eyes.
5. In Brobdingnag, Gulliver's experiences challenge his views on civilization and humanity, leading him to question the values of his own society.

Review Questions

• How do the Brobdingnagians serve as a contrast to Gulliver and what does this reveal about human nature?
  • The Brobdingnagians serve as a stark contrast to Gulliver due to their immense size and perceived moral superiority. While Gulliver initially represents the complexity and pride of human civilization, the giants' straightforwardness and lack of pretentiousness highlight the absurdities and flaws within human nature. This juxtaposition allows Swift to critique societal norms and emphasize the idea that size does not equate to moral superiority.
• Analyze how Swift uses the Brobdingnagians to critique contemporary society and politics.
  • Swift employs the Brobdingnagians as a means to critique contemporary society by showcasing their rationality and straightforwardness compared to the often corrupt and misguided values of European politics. Through conversations with the Brobdingnag king, Gulliver is confronted with an outsider's perspective on his own culture's practices, which exposes the follies of pride and ambition. This satirical lens enables readers to reflect on their own societal structures and question their validity.
• Evaluate the significance of size in 'Gulliver's Travels,' particularly concerning the Brobdingnagians, and its implications for understanding Swift's overall message.
  • The significance of size in 'Gulliver's Travels' is crucial for understanding Swift's overall message about perspective and human nature. The enormous size of the Brobdingnagians forces Gulliver—and by extension, the reader—to reconsider notions of power, morality, and societal values. By placing a small man in a world of giants, Swift suggests that true greatness lies not in physical stature or ambition but in virtue and common sense. This challenges conventional hierarchies and ultimately questions what it means to be 'civilized' in a flawed world.

Related terms

Lilliputians:

The tiny inhabitants of Lilliput, another fictional land in 'Gulliver's Travels,' representing the absurdity and pettiness of human conflicts and politics.

Satire: A literary technique used to expose and criticize foolishness or corruption through humor, irony, and exaggeration, prominently featured in Swift's works.

Perspective: The viewpoint or angle from which a story is told or a situation is perceived, which plays a significant role in the contrasts between Brobdingnagians and Gulliver.