The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle · Chapter
I: New Popsipetel explained
King Jong (Doctor Dolittle) works tirelessly to build the new city of Popsipetel, introducing modern sanitation, water supply, mining, and metalworking.
What happens
King Jong (Doctor Dolittle) works tirelessly to build the new city of Popsipetel, introducing modern sanitation, water supply, mining, and metalworking. He teaches school, holds court, and reluctantly accepts royal pomp while striving to be a democratic king. The chapter ends with a grand celebration of his birthday and a pictorial history of his deeds.
Themes in this chapter
Responsibility and Leadership
Doctor Dolittle takes on the immense responsibilities of kingship, from urban planning to education and justice, demonstrating dedicated leadership.
Education and Curiosity
The Doctor teaches a wide range of subjects to both children and adults, emphasizing the value of learning and knowledge.
Cultural Exchange and Understanding
The Doctor introduces new technologies and ideas while respecting the Indians' traditions, blending cultures in the building of New Popsipetel.
Characters to notice
- Doctor Dolittle
Serves as King Jong Thinkalot, tirelessly building the new city, teaching, and judging; reluctantly accepts royal ceremony.
- Tommy Stubbins
Narrates the chapter, helps with teaching simple arithmetic and other subjects.
- Bumpo Kahbooboo
Assists Tommy in teaching the Indians.
Key passages
“I had thought that all that kings had to do was to sit on a throne and have people bow down before them several times a day. I now saw that a king can be the hardest-working man in the world—if he attends properly to his business.”
Tommy initially believed kings had an easy life of being worshipped, but he realized that a diligent king works harder than anyone.
Tommy's reflection on the true nature of kingship.
“He may not have been as dignified as many kings in history who were always running off to war and getting themselves into romantic situations; but since I have grown up and seen something of foreign lands and governments I have often thought that Popsipetel under the reign of Jong Thinkalot was perhaps the best ruled state in the history of the world.”
Though Doctor Dolittle lacked the pomp of warrior kings, Tommy later believed his reign was one of the most effective and well-governed in history.
Tommy's mature assessment of the Doctor's rule.