Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travel Part IV Term Paper

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Swift's Gulliver's Travels

'My Reconcilement to the Yahoo-kind in general might not be so difficult, if they would be content with those Vices and Follies only which Nature hath entitled them," (Chapter 12). The narrator's words illustrate a universal aspect of human nature: the creation of an "us vs. them" mentality that at its worst leads to racism. In fact, Gulliver's voyage to the land of the Houyhnhnms contains elements of racial tension and ethnic identity. The Houyhnhnms are the dominant race; although they do exhibit positive qualities to aspire to, such as altruism, intelligence, and rationality, they nevertheless persecute the Yahoos and even suggest castrating them to kill of their race. While the Houyhnhnms are admirable in many respects, Gulliver fails to notice their faults and failings. For instance, the Houyhnhnms are excessively rational and in some ways symbolize an exaggeration of human reason. Nevertheless, Gulliver wishes to remain with them; he is essentially a wannabe Houyhnhnm. In the process, the narrator denies his humanity. In fact, Gulliver also states, in Chapter 7, "I entered on a firm resolution never to return to humankind, but to pass the rest of my life among these admirable HOUYHNHNMS." When Gulliver is forcibly returned to England, he resorts to a state of semi-insanity by continuing to speak in Houyhnhnm tongue. Gulliver's denial of his race is indicative of the type of racial self-hatred that many African-Americans experienced as a result of the slave trade.

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Therefore, like the rest of Jonathan Swift's satirical novel Gulliver's Travels, Part Four pertains perfectly to modern society because it deals with the subject of racism, stereotypes, and ethnic identity.

From the onset of Gulliver's encounter with the Houyhnhnms, an "us vs. them" mentality is created. As an outsider, Gulliver is automatically afforded an alien status. The Yahoos and the Houyhnhnms regard him with considerable suspicion. The brutish Yahoos immediately accost Gulliver. The Houyhnhnms' approach is more civilized but it soon becomes apparent that the race of intelligent horses simply wants to lump Gulliver with the Yahoos simply because they look vaguely alike. This illustrates one clear parallel between Swift's era and our own: persons are prone to judging people based on their outward appearance. The Houyhnhnms judge Gulliver based on his resemblance to the Yahoos, even though it is clear that Gulliver possesses a superior intelligence and emotional capacity. Eventually, Gulliver is banished from the island because the Houyhnhnms deem him no different from the Yahoos. "The assembly did therefore exhort him either to employ me like the rest of my species, or command me to swim back to the place whence I came," (Chapter 10). This passage also illustrates a general tendency of human nature is to create categories and stereotypes….....

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