Gulliver's Travels
by Jonathan Swift

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Dictionary: R

Ranfu-Lo Lill; breeches; "rain from low" (ie. source of rain, Gulliver having produced "rain" from his pants earlier) [Clark]
  • "his middle Cover (so I translate the Word Ranfu-Lo, which they meant my Breeches)" (I:2)
Redriff
 small maritime settlement on the Thames in London's Southwark borough, facing Wapping; spelled Redriffe by Pepys; now called Rotherhide. (source: London Encyclopædia )
Reldresal Lilliputian "principal Secretary for private Affairs" and friend of Gulliver; "Real dreamer" "Real Treasurer" or "Dreamer Harley" [Clark] ; possibly modelled after:
  • John Carteret (1690-1763), Lord Granville, Principal Secretary of State (1721-24) and a friend of Swift; lead opposition that brought fall of Robert Walpole in 1742..
  • James Stanhope (1673-1721), first Earl of Stanhope; George I's secretary of state
  • Lord Charles Townshend (1674-1738). second viscount Townshend; English statesman and brother-in-law of Robert Walpole.
Relplum Scalcath Brobd.; "real prime carcass" [Clark]
  • "they concluded unanimously that I was only Relplum Scalcath, which is interpreted literally, Lusus Naturæ" (II:3;6)
romanceromantic literature; Swift, who sometimes championed education for women, was appalled at the trashy literature - romances - women read. It is not a coincidence that the fire at the Imperial palace of Lilliput was caused by a "Maid of Honour, who fell asleep while she was reading a Romance." (I:5;9)
Rope-Dancers in Lilliput, those holding or seeking political office, must prove themselves by performing acrobatic feats "upon a slender white Thread, extended about two Foot and twelve Inches from the Ground." (I:3;1) (Note: Lilliputians are about 6 inches tall, so this is a dangerous height for them.) The allusion is double-edged: positions of authority are awarded without reference to the necessary skills of statesmanship; and success at court is compared to the ability to dance upon a rope without falling.

The "rope dancers" are mentioned again in Chapter VI:

the most scandalous Corruptions into which these People are fallen by the degenerate Nature of Man. For as to that infamous Practice of acquiring great Employments by dancing on the Ropes, or Badges of Favour and Distinction by leaping over Sticks and creeping under them, the Reader is to observe, that they were first introduced by the Grand-father of the Emperor now reigning, and grew to the present height by the gradual increase of Party and Faction. (I:6;9)

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compiled by Lee Jaffe, Comments or questions?
updated: 25 March 2000
copyright 1999-2000