Describe, after Swift, the society of
the Houyhnhmns.
In the fourth book of Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan
Swift demonstrates the essentially destructive pursuit of reason in human
society. Swift’s protagonist, Gulliver, believes perfect reason could solve the
many problems of humanity, yet his emotional responses to what he considers to
be a purely rational society casts doubt on his glorification of reason. By
establishing Gulliver as an unreliable narrator subject to irrational emotions,
Swift demonstrates that perfect reason can never be truly realized in human
society and the pursuit of such reason can only lead to societal and
psychological stagnation.
Before Gulliver
elaborates his tale of this final adventure, he states that man can be “A
little too positive in his own opinions, which [is] the cause of his
destruction” (Swift 2418). This sets up an important frame from which to view
Gulliver’s experiences. Although he is rightfully frustrated with humanity, the
excessive regard he will later bestow on the Houyhnhnms and their pure reason
is cast in a deprecating light. Similarly, his utter disdain for the Yahoos
works as an indicator of his personal beliefs rather than their true nature.
Gulliver’s egregious
encounter with the Yahoo’s comes immediately after a mutiny from his shipmates
whom he calls rogues: “These rogues…formed a conspiracy” (Swift 2419). Through
this detestation, Swift establishes Gulliver as a victim of human avaricious
intent. “In this desolate condition I advanced forward” (Swift 2419). By
wanting to advance forward from this bad experience, he is metaphorically
seeking a repose from the pitfalls of humanity. He is already weary from his
experience of humanity when he is attacked by the Yahoo’s. His regard for the
Houyhnhnms is exaggerated because they save him while the human and human-like
figures mistreat him. This event works as an emotionally charged catalyst
for his opinion of the Houyhnhnms and the Yahoo’s.
