Common Nature of the Yahoos in the Country of the Houyhnhnms?
Gulliver’s Travels is a notable literary work by Jonathan Swift. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Gulliver’s Travels.
Answer
What was the common nature of the Yahoos in the country of the Houyhnhnms?
In Jonathan Swift’s (1667 –1745) famous novel “Gulliver’s Travels” (1726), the Yahoos in the land of the Houyhnhnms are depicted as savage and bestial creatures. Gulliver describes the Yahoos as animals: “…deformed… Their heads and breasts were covered with thick hair… but the rest of their bodies were bare… They had no tails and often stood on their hind feet…”
Gulliver describes them as vile and disgraceful creatures. As he says, “I never beheld in all my travels so disagreeable an animal.” The Yahoos represent evil English people. Their common natures are given below.
Characteristics of Yahoos: The Yahoos are characterized by their violence, aggression, and lack of social order or rationality. They engage in brutal fights over food and territory. It displays a complete absence of moral or ethical considerations in their actions.
Whoever understood the nature of Yahoos, might easily believe it possible for so vile an animal to be capable of every action I had named.
Crude Nature of Yahoo: The Yahoos’ interactions are marked by a crude and base nature. They are devoid of communication beyond grunts and gestures. They live in a state of constant conflict and are driven primarily by their primal instincts, such as greed and lust. They even try to rape Gulliver.
How vile, as well as miserable, such a creature must be.
Their existence starkly contrasts with the Houyhnhnms. They are rational and virtuous beings characterized by reason, harmony, and a strict adherence to ethical principles. The Houyhnhnms represent the goodness of mankind.
In conclusion, Swift uses the Yahoos as a satirical commentary on humanity’s flaws and vices. Through their depiction, he critiques the negative aspects of human nature and highlights the consequences of abandoning reason and morality.