Houyhnhnms Ideal
Houyhnhnms IdealJonathan Swift published Gulliver’s Travels anonymously in 1726, during the height of the 18th Century Age of Reason. Swift was an Irish Protestant clergyman and satirist. He thus disguises his allusions to the political and philosophical thought of his time, allowing the reader, not Gulliver, to discover them. Gulliver’s Travels was a satire on man, especially the European man. In Book IV, Swift presents two extremes of the dual being, that being the purely rational, and the other being the purely passionate. He finally presents the true ideal for humanity through Captain Mendez, the practical guide to follow. As a humanist, Swift was concerned for preserving the moral and spiritual qualities that distinguish men from beasts.
The Houyhnhnms are horses that maintain a simple, peaceful society, in which the Yahoos are subordinate. The principle virtues of the Houyhnhnms are their friendship and benevolence. They are more concerned with the community than with their own personal advantages, even choosing their mates in order to promote the race as a whole. They are creatures of absolute rationality. Gulliver is dazzled by their freedom from passion, envy, hatred, and greed.
The master describes all the flaws of the Yahoos, principally detailing their greed and selfishness. He admits that the humans have different systems of learning, law, government, and art, but says that their natures are not different from those of the Yahoos. They are unable to learn anything; they are strong, cowardly, and malicious. The Yahoos represent what the humans can become of they give up reason and give themselves over completely to their passions.
In many ways, Gulliver’s role as a “generic human” is more important than any personal opinions or abilities he may have....
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