Gulliver's Travels: Close Commentary

Jonathan Swift

In Gulliver's Travels, Swift takes us to many places that serve as a looking glass for the foibles of English society, but none of the places are as severe a censure of men as Houyhnhnmland. Here Swift has made a clear division of pure reason, embodied in the Houyhnhnms (maybe he was refering to "horse sense"), and raw passion, embodied in the Yahoos (which are "coincidentally" very manlike). Here Gulliver has to make the choice between Houyhnhnms and Yahoos, reason and passion. He initially rejects the Yahoos because of their repulsiveness to him, but at the same time he doesn't embrace the Houyhnhnms either. He still wants to cling in many ways to his English heritage, but his discussions with his master proves to himself, despite his asserted differences, that he and his English society are really Yahoo!

When I thought of my family, my friends, my countrymen, or human race in general, I considered them as they really were, Yahoos in shape and disposition, perhaps a little more civilized, and qualified with the gift of speech; but making no other use of reason than to improve and multiply those vices, whereof their brethren in this country had only the share that nature allotted them.

Thus Gulliver is faced with this decision again between Houyhnhnm and Yahoo, but now he sees Yahoo as being himself and country. He decides to reject Yahoos and his former self and embrace Houyhnhnms and reason. I believe chapter ten to be the crucial chapter in the book, because Gulliver decides to abandon all things "Yahoo," and in the same chapter Houyhnhnms and reason decide to reject Gulliver.

In the beginning of chapter ten, Gulliver relates his happy lodgings next to his master's house, which includes the account of what he has done for shoes,

I soled my shoes...and fitted to the upper leather, and when this was worn out, I supplied it with the skins of Yahoos, dried in the sun.

This fact is horrific if one considers that Gulliver identifies himself with Yahoos. It is a clear attempt to raise himself beyond the lowliness of Yahoos, but at the same time shows his true Yahooness, that he would use the skins of his own kind for his benefit. Even Houyhnhnms don't use the skins of Yahoos for anything, but maybe Swift is suggesting that one can't escape their nature.

Gulliver goes on to express his great gladness for being in Houyhnhnmland and not England, which at the same time allows Swift an oppurtunity to give one of his strongest censures of English society in an explosive rant (like Swift is noted for).

I enjoyed perfect health of body, and tranquility of mind; I did not feel the treachery or inconstancy of a friend, nor the inquiries of a secret or open enemy. I had no occasion of bribing, flattering, or pimping to procure the favor of any great man, or of his minion. I wanted no fence against fraud or oppression; here was neither physician to destroy my body, nor lawyer to ruin my fortune; no informer to watch my words and actions, or forge accusations against me for hire; here were no gibers, censurers, backbiters, pickpockets, highwaymen, housebreakers, attorneys, bawds, buffoons, gamesters, politicians, wits, splenetics, tedious talkers, controvertists, ravishers, murderers, robbers, virtuosos; no leaders or followers of party and faction; no encouragers to vice, by seducement or examples; no dungeons, axes, gibbets, whipping posts, or pillories; no cheating shopkeepers or mechanics; no pride, vanity or affectation; no fops, bullies, drunkards, strolling whores, or poxes; no ranting, lewd, expensive wives; no stupid, proud pedants; no importunate, overbearing, quarrelsome, noisy, roaring, empty, conceited, swearing companions; no scoundrels raised from the dust upon the merit of their vices; or nobility thrown into it on account of their virtues; no lords, fiddlers, judges, or dancing masters.

But, while Gulliver sees more clearly now then ever the vices of his own Yahoo race, he does not feel that he is really seperated from that.

When I happened to behold the reflection of my own form in a lake or fountain, I turned away my face in horror and detestation of myself, and could better endure the sight of a common Yahoo than of my own person.

He also doesn't credit himself with his new found understanding.

I freely confess, that all the little knwledge I have of any value was acquired by the lectures I received from my master, and from hearing the discourses of him and his friends; to which I should be prouder to listen, than to dictate to the greatest and wisest assembly in Europe.

But despite Gulliver's readiness to spend the rest of his days there, his master comes to him with the news that the assembly has decided that it is not possible for any Yahoo to live with Houyhnhnms. And Gulliver, understanding that no arguments made by a Yahoo would sway the assemblies decision, contents himself with the idea of leaving, only after a swooning and collapsing at his master's feet (a decidedly Yahoo thing to do).

What one is left wondering after this turn of events is what is the implication of Gulliver's rejection from Houyhnhnmland? Is Swift giving the grim message that people will never be able to escape their natural weakness for vice, and that if there was a place where pure reason and virtue governed people would be an anomaly there. If this is the message than what could possibly be the point of the book? Gulliver offers up the idea that he might teach these Houyhnhnm virtues to the rest of his kind, but people like Richard Gravil cite example after example that shows that after Gulliver left Houyhnhnmland, or any of the places in Gulliver's Travels, any wisdom he gained was either forgotten or not put into practice. So then, what might be the message of Gulliver's Travels, besides merely a cataloging through satire of the particulary wrongs of Swift's day? My readings show this to be a hotly debated question, but for my own answer to this question you will have to read my analysis of Gulliver's Travels.