"Literature Class" What does Gulliver learn about himself?

[Narrator] Listen to part of a discussion in a literature class.
[Professor]
Today were continuing our discussion of Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift. We left off last session at  Q6
the point where Gulliver began his fourth voyage as the captain of a merchant ship. As you’ll recall, his
crew had confined him and cast him ashore on an island. While making his way along a road, he was
attacked by a herd of deformed beasts with brown skin and no tails, but suddenly the attack was interrupted
by the appearance of a beautiful horse. And this is where we left off. So what happens next?
[Student 1]
Well, another horse comes along, and they appear to be having a conversation, the two horses, I mean,
and they keep using the words Yahoo and Houyhnhnm so Gulliver is able to understand that Yahoo
refers to the animals that attacked him and Houyhnhnm refers to the horses. Then Gulliver goes home
with the horses.
[Professor]
And what is Gulliver thinking about while he’s observing the Yahoos and the Houyhnhnms?
[Student 2]
Oh, this was good. He starts to understand that the only difference between himself and the Yahoos is  Q7
his clothing. But he’s... he’s horrified by this, so we see him trying to be more like the horses.
[Professor] How do you know that he’s striving to emulate the Houyhnhnms?
[Student 2] Well, he learns their language... so he can communicate with them.
[Professor]
Right. So this brings us to the most important part of the narrative—the comparison between the
Yahoos and the Houyhnhnms. First tell us how the Yahoos are portrayed. What do they eat? How do
they look?
[Student 3]
Well, I think the author used the word depraved several times. They eat dog and donkey meat and even  Q8
garbage, and they drink, um, they drink... too much. And he says they’re filthy, and they stink.
[Professor]
So their behavior... the Yahoos’ behavior... is neither rational nor moral. Now take a look at the
description of the Yahoos that Gulliver has known in England. Let me refer to the book here. Okay, Gulliver
explains that Yahoos in England fight wars for religious reasons, that lawyers use reason to argue
for the wrong side, that the wealthy live to acquire more luxuries, and that greed makes them ill. By this,
we assume that he’s referring to the rich gourmet diet that causes gout and other health problems
among the upper classes. So this is in contrast with the Houyhnhnms, right? How so?
[Student 1]   [Student 2]
Well...   Yes...
[Student 1] Sorry, go ahead.
[Student 2]
I was just going to say that they eat oats, bread, and honey, but not meat, not other animals. And they
don’t drink.
[Student 1]
I think it’s important that they don’t even understand the concept of a lie. That proves that they are...
that they have a very innocent nature.
[Professor]
Good point. You’re referring to the fact that they failed to grasp how the crew was able to initiate the
mutiny that brought Gulliver to their island.
[Student 1] Umhum.
[Professor]
Okay, so what do the Houyhnhnms think about Gulliver? And what does Gulliver conclude about himself?
[Student 2]
Well, Gulliver isn’t really a Yahoo and he isn’t really a Houyhnhnm either. I’d say he’s kind of in the middle.
But, he’s trying to become a Houyhnhnm. When he goes back to England; he’s actually afraid of  Q8
other humans... I mean... Yahoos.
[Professor]
But he can’t quite achieve his transformation, can he? Even though his pride motivates him to continue  Q9
the impossible pursuit of perfection.... So, what does this all mean?
[Student 1]
I think it’s like the other chapters. The fourth voyage is... it’s another critique of the weaknesses in
human nature.
[Professor]
Then Swift is making the point that although humankind is capable of rational behavior, we seldom
choose to exercise it. The very meaning of the word Yahoo in the Houyhnhnm language is "evil." So
Swift is very satirical then. And when we consider the time period for the book, the early 1700s, we must  Q10
appreciate the exceptional departure from the literature of the era, which was mostly written to flatter or
entertain. Swift used satire to provide the reader with a perspective that’s very different from that of  Q11
other writers in an age of science and reason.