After reading Gulliver’s Travels, what stood out to me the most was the interaction between Gulliver and the Houyhnhnm concerning Gulliver’s likeness to the Yahoos. What I find also interesting, is how Gulliver reacts to this.
At the first appearance of the Yahoos, Gulliver states that he had “never beheld in all of [his] travels so disagreeable an animal, or one against which [he] naturally conceived so strong an antipathy.” So blatant was his initial aversion and habitual dislike to the “ugly monster” that Gulliver did not recognize resemblance to his own kind in the Yahoos. It wasn’t until later, when they were placed closer together that Gulliver saw “to [his] horror and astonishment …in this abominable animal, a perfect human figure…” This is where Gulliver first sees the physical similarities between himself and the Yahoos and becomes ashamed. He has seen the enemy and it is him. What strikes me though is that Gulliver knows he is intellectually and morally more sound than the Yahoos. The Houyhnhnm recognize this too, that Gullivers “ teachableness, civility, and cleanliness astonished him; which were qualities so opposite to those animals.” However, it was still convinced of Gulliver being a Yahoo despite these things. I can’t help but wonder why, if Gulliver shows “some glimmerings of reason” that he is still considered a Yahoo? If the Houyhnhnm think that he is capable of having some reason and being a Yahoo, then why don’t they think the real Yahoos are capable of it? Even Gulliver himself, after a while, found it hard to seperate himself from The Houyhnhnm’s perception of him as a Yahoo, even after he “concealed the secret of [his] dress, in order to distinguish [himself] as much as possible, from that cursed race of Yahoos; but now [he] found it in vain to do so.” If he knows he is not a Yahoo, and can show so through his intellect and ability to reason, then why be afraid to look like them?
Comment On Samuel Olivers:
I completely agree with this! I first read Candide when I was in Highschool, and my first afterthought was wow, Pangloss is an idiot. However like you, I do think that he was right when he said that the earth was the best possible earth that could have been made by God. Yet, it is the people that screw it all up…we do, mankind is where the problem lies. Yes, if it wasn’t for us, everything would run smoothly. That’s why I get confused with Pangloss’ character and more often then none turn to criticizing him. If he can recognize that the earth is the best it can possibly be, then why cant he recognize that the problem lies within mankind?
I think one thing that made him a yahoo in their eyes was that he was still somewhat governed by passion. Passion was what mainly governed the yahoos and if he had even a little passion that would make him one. The houyhnhmns were completely governed by reason. Passion made no sense to them, so I guess they couldn't fathom a creature being half and half.
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