LittleEndians

LittleEndians are a fictional group of people in Jonathan Swift's satirical novel Gulliver's Travels. They hail from the imaginary island of Lilliput, a land inhabited by tiny people, roughly one-twelfth the size of a normal human. The name "LittleEndian" refers to their peculiar custom of breaking eggs at the smaller end before eating them. This practice is a point of fierce contention within Lilliputian society and serves as a central metaphor for the trivialities and absurdities of political and religious disputes.

The conflict between the LittleEndians and the Big-Endians, who break their eggs at the larger end, is presented as a deeply divisive issue that has led to bloodshed and generations of animosity. Gulliver, the protagonist, finds himself caught in the middle of this absurd quarrel, highlighting Swift's critique of intolerance and the propensity for humans to engage in destructive wars over inconsequential matters. The LittleEndian/Big-Endian schism is a microcosm of the larger political and religious conflicts of Swift's time, such as the disputes between Catholics and Protestants in England. Their minuscule stature also emphasizes the pettiness of their arguments.