Misanthropy In Gulliver's Travels

These discourses enable Gulliver to foster an intense hatred towards humans, or Yahoos as he calls them. At this juncture, it is interesting to note that the Houyhnhnms term the Yahoos a degenerated race, selfish, lascivious, and cunning evil nature, which Gulliver readily accepts, to much mystique. His interaction with them is limited, but he readily accepts the subverted position with negligible questions. Subsequently, he is all ready to adapt to the Houyhnhnm way of life, endued with Reason and live there quite contented. But, he is unceremoniously banished to return to his kind, to which effect, he builds a boat to leave. Before he leaves, Gulliver stoops to kiss his master’s hoof, sensing which the master raises his hoof, that being counted as a rare honour by Gulliver. This incident among others has been noted for deliberately debasing the position of humankind to that of below an animal. Subsequently, as Gulliver returns to the human fold, he encounters Don Pedro, a kind captain who helps him reach Redcliff. However, for Gulliver, though he thinks of Pedro as having some human understanding is quite certain that every Yahoo is evil. Even after reaching home, he stubbornly refuses to …show more content…
It would be indeed comical if someone presumes the Houyhnhnms’ utopic world as the perfect solution to humankind’s debauched one. The Houyhnhnms are far from being perfect, being self-assured in most matters, though it might be well outside their purview. The Houyhnhnm master isn’t experienced enough, having not visited any land other than his, but with just Gulliver’s narrative, he can surely discourse upon the defects. Even the sorrel-nag believes that there can’t be any island other than their own. The Houyhnhnms are quite assured of their own supremacy, for any defect in Gulliver would only ensure that the solution is to be found in the Houyhnhnm way of