The Houyhnhnms in Gulliver's Travels

A detailed Summary of The Houyhnhnms in Gulliver's Travels


In the last part of the novel Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift, a dichotomy is established which crtiticizes two extreme ideas of man. The Houynhnms, a race of horses, are meant to symbolize man as a supremely rational being and the Yahoos, a primitive, vulgar version of humans, are made to symbolize man as an animal. The narrator Gulliver is a sort of reference point between the two, since in physical appearance he seems to be a Yahoo, but his ability to reason enables him to relate well to the Houynhnms. Readers have interrpreted the rational horses in a number of different ways. Some feel that the Houynhnms are the ideal to which humans should strive to attain. Others feel that the Houynhnms are as evil as the Yahoos. It is my opinion that Swift uses the Houynhnms and the Yahoos to illustrate both ends of the unattainable spectrum of reason, and why both are completely undesireable ways of life.

It is implausable to think that the Houyhnhmns are the ideal way for man to be. They have no writing system, as well as no passions, no l


When Gulliver first encounters the Houynhnms, he takes an immediate liking to them, saying "Upon the whole, the behaviour of these animals was so orderly and rational, so acute and judicious, that I at at last concluded they must needs be Magician." This admiration grows and grows until he quickly comes to believe that these creatures are perfect in every way possible. The fact that these creatures are horses, not humans, symbolizes how Swift believes that no humans can be so perfect. The extent to which Gulliver worships these creatures is further delineated by his self-loathing; "When I happened to behold my Reflection of my own form in a lake or a Fountain, I turned away my face in Horror and Detestation of myself." Gulliver even tries to imitate them in a ridiculous attempt to be accepted in their society. Gulliver can be looked upon as a human, trying (in an effort to escape his animal tendencies) to become supremely rational which is a futile effort. Man can never be purely rational because man is an animal. Being face to face with man in

Some common words found in the essay are:
Grief Departure, Detestation Gulliver, Don Pedro, Jonathan Swift, Houynhnms Yahoos, Indeed Love, Houynhnms Readers, Friends Relations, Foles Care, Houyhnhnms Swift, futile effort, feel houynhnms, supremely rational, don pedro,

Approximate Word count = 707
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

join now Save Paper

Related Essays

  • Gulliveramp39s Travels ... concerned with philosophy and astronomy, he travels to a ... adventure takes place in the land of the Houyhnhnms. Here, Gulliver is convinced that the way that the ... 796 words
  • gulliveramp39s travels ... Throughout Gulliver Travels, the Houyhnhnms and Yahoos are depicted as faults in humans. These two species are shown to be an ideal gone wrong. ... 645 words
  • Satire in Gulliveramp39s Travels ... Throughout Gulliver Travels, the Houyhnhnms and Yahoos are depicted as faults in humans. These two species are shown to be an ideal gone wrong. ... 646 words
  • Gulliveramp39s Travels 2 ... nature ruled by reason for the most part as the Houyhnhnms are, but ... succeeds in showing the flaws of human nature through a microscope in Gulliveramp39s Travels. ... 1362 words
  • Gulliveramp39s Travels 3 ... old self was left in the land of the Houyhnhnms and can ... It ends up that his travels were for the worse because he ... Will Gulliver ever regain his previous self ... 959 words

Professional Essays

  • Gulliveramp39s Travels GULLIVERS TRAVELS The Houyhnhnms Upon the whole, I never beheld in all my travels so disagreeable an animal, or one against which I naturally conceived ... 1769 words
  • Gulliveramp39s Travels, Part Four ... 224. In the third chapter of the fourth part of Gulliveramp39s Travels, Gulliver learns to speak the language of the Houyhnhnms. He ... 1672 words
  • Jonathan Swiftamp39s Gulliveramp39s Travels ... In the first book of the travels Gulliver visits the Lilliputians whose ... In Gulliveramp39s meetings with the Laputans, the Balnibarbians, the Houyhnhnms and the ... 1736 words
  • Gulliveramp39s Travels ... Gullivers Travels offers plenty of adventure and imaginative characters to entertain a child, but Swifts work ... Gulliver finds the Houyhnhnms and their ... 676 words
  • Sympathetic Characters in Gulliveramp39s Travels ... During his travels, Gulliver encounters many individuals and different groups of people, from the Lilliputians and Houyhnhnms to the Brobdingnagians and ... 1240 words
  • Gulliveramp39s Travels ... the sight of human figures and identifies with the Houyhnhnms, The savagery ... The question Gulliveramp39s Travels invariably raise is how seriously to take Swiftamp39s ... 967 words


Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

Newest Essays

Testimonials

  • "Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
    Jack M.
  • "With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
    Brian P.
  • "I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
    Sara J.
  • "I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
    Rachel W.
  • "I love this site!!!"
    Marie N.
Home Join Now Support
Acceptable Use Policy About us FAQ
All papers are for research and reference purposes only!
© 2002-2009 DirectEssays.com. All Rights Reserved.