Today’s Special: A Plate of Swift Served With A Generous Portion of Satire.
Today's Special: A Plate of Swift Served With A Generous Portion of Satire.
Jonathan Swift's, Gulliver's Travels, has been widely analyzed by scholars, and is indisputably one of the greatest satirical works of the human condition ever written. This is especially evident when one examines the Houyhnhnms in part four of the Travels. Two scholars that provide interesting interpretations are Alan Bloom and David Ward. While each attempts to develop individual ideas about the Houyhnhnms, each follows a predetermined theme. They seem to ignore the idea that Swift is one of the most talented writers of the 18th century - encompassing satirical themes that penetrate deeper than the simple, surface interpretations. This paper will deal with a concept undeveloped by these scholars; the notion that Swift, through the Houyhnhnms, and Gulliver's interpretations of them and the Yahoos, is not simply presenting a satirical look at civilization as a whole. Upon closer examination, one finds that Swift actually exposes the absurdity of the notion that there could be a perfect civilization. Swift demonstrates that regardless of mans perceived attitude, he will always trample uopn those that he considers beneath him. He does this by examining the Houyhnhnm's idea of slavery, their placement of women in society and their treatment of the lower class Yahoos.
To help develop the notion of slavery and male domination, one should examine the Houyhnhnms and Gulliver's ignorant fascination with their 'ideal' culture. The Houyhnhnms have typically been viewed as a 'perfect' society - demonstrating a standard for conduct by which humanity should follow. Ward argues that the Houyhnhnms are "... intelligent in the way in which they organize their lives. They are an expression of something which we would all ... wish to be; an expression of a human ideal, an ideal which [is] very much prized" (168). This may be the case if one's ideological perspectives focus on slavery and female subordination.
Swift's desire to encompass slavery in the Houyhnhnms' lifestyle is not done accidentally and Gulliver's ignorant acceptance that slavery is a fundamental right of the upper class, satirically stabs at the ideological beliefs of a blind society. Bloom comments that the Houyhnhnms' incorporate "passionate, natural harmony . . . with rationale" (661). This is obviously not Swift's intention - or better yet, this is merely Swift's surface intention. Instead he attempts to develop subtle, negative aspects within the Houyhnhnms culture, paint them as perfect and ideal, and have Gulliver attempt to prove they are. The cautious reader, however, realizes they are not.
To help develop the 'ideal' society, Swift has the Houyhnhnms keep sorrel nags as their servants. Gulliver's ignorance shines brilliantly through, as he does not comment once on the fact that slavery is demeaning and morally objective. Gulliver is especially ignorant because he ignores the fact that slavery in the Houyhnhnm culture is based on color. Every "under servant" (Swift IV. 1075) is a brown horse. Even in Houyhnhnm marriage, they are "extremely careful to choose such colors as will not make any disagreeable mixture in the breed" (Swift IV. 1096). Those that are "bred up to be ...
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To help develop the 'ideal' society, Swift has the Houyhnhnms keep sorrel nags as their servants. Gulliver's ignorance shines brilliantly through, as he does not comment once on the fact that slavery is demeaning and morally objective. Gulliver is especially ignorant because he ignores the fact that slavery in the Houyhnhnm culture is based on color. Every "under servant" (Swift IV. 1075) is a brown horse. Even in Houyhnhnm marriage, they are "extremely careful to choose such colors as will not make any disagreeable mixture in the breed" (Swift IV. 1096). Those that are "bred up to be servants" (Swift IV. 1096) are allowed to "produce three of each sex, to be domestics in the noble families" (Swift IV. 1096). Swift is alluding to a fascist ideology in which a military / noble dominance controls everything for the preservation of the race and the state regardless of suffering or cruelty. The fact that Gulliver never addresses this idea shows his, and more specifically, societies ignorance toward such blatant horrors. Swift exposes the concept that even when society thinks of itself as perfect, as through the eyes of the Houyhnhnms, they are blind to the obvious tortures of humanity. After time, Gulliver is given his own sorrel nag. He does not object to partaking in slavery and in fact considers the sorrel nag to be fond of him. Swift cleverly develops Gulliver, and more particularly, societies ignorance by the general acceptance of slavery. Gulliver's seemingly innocent idea that his sorrel nag "[has] a tenderness for [him]" (Swift IV. 1103), without ever asking the slave if he enjoys a life of servitude, helps develop the underlying theme of a society that seems perfect on the surface, but actually conforms to many of the horrific standards, associated with humankind.
Further to this argument, family structure helps to disprove Bloom's theory that the Houyhnhnm's display "equality of women" (660). Women are once again given the role of housewife in which it is the mare's responsibility to tend to the children. During Gulliver's first encounter with female Houyhnhnms, he witness a "comely mare, together with a colt and foal" (Swift IV. 1072). Men dominate Houyhnhnm society and when Gulliver tells of his homeland he refers to the queen as a "female man" (Swift IV. 1080). The master male horse later informs Gulliver that it is common practice for Yahoo women to get into groups and "chatter" and "stare" at other Yahoo women. Gulliver notes however, that it is nearly "instinct" for women to display "the rudiments of lewdness, coquetry, censure, and scandal" (Swift IV. 1093). Again Swift mockingly points a finger at Gulliver by allowing him to fall victim to his own stereotypes. Swift develops Gulliver's character with a dose of gullibility (although this is an entirely different argument) to allow him to fall victim to the general notion of society - particularly one dominated by male influence and mentality.
Further to this argument, women in Houyhnhnm society are treated almost as a commodity and this concept is entirely void in the critical studies by Bloom and Ward. Male Houyhnhnms are "pleased to direct [their] own mare" (Swift IV. 1076) as though they are directing their servants. The number of children is strictly enforced upon upper-class matrons and once a matron Houyhnhnm has produced her required number of offspring she "no longer accompanies [her] consort" (Swift IV. 1096). The only exception to this is if one of her colts, or her friends colts dies, then she is permitted "to go together a second time, until the mother be pregnant" (Swift IV. 1096).
These ignorant qualities in Gulliver help Swift to show that Houyhnhnm (and human) society is flawed. Gulliver is ignorant to inequalities that he does not consider unequal; therefore, his interpretations of an ideal society are also ignorant and flawed. This is extremely relevant when Gulliver returns home with supposed intellect and insight into the flaws of society. Swift is able to pointedly jab at Gulliver's wealth of knowledge by the way Gulliver treats his wife and children. If Gulliver has learned so much about benevolence and friendship from the Houyhnhnms why does he treat his wife and children with such hostility? Swift has Gulliver leave when his "poor wife [is] big with child" (IV. 1067). During his journey the reader is led to believe that Gulliver undergoes miraculous transformation as he sees the perils of human society, but when he returns he comments that he can "not endure [his] wife or children in [his] presence" and that the "very smell of them [is] intolerable" (Swift IV 1109). This statement leaves one to believe that perhaps, with age, Gulliver has actually digressed to a less caring and gentle individual. His ideas of love and friendship have changed significantly as he has aged. (This concept is not entirely unfamiliar in Swift's works.)
The Yahoos are the final topic for consideration. They represent more than just, as Bloom states it, the "trash heap" (658) of societies morals and values. Swift cleverly develops the Yahoos to show the cruelty of the Houyhnhnms. A surface translation of the Yahoos may be that they represent "Swifts criticism of modern man as a degenerate" (Ward 170), but a deeper interpretation shows that the Yahoos actually provide a vice upon which the Houyhnhnms feed. This helps develop Swift's theme that a perfect civilization is non-existent and that the corruption of man, even in the Houyhnhnms, is inevitable. Gulliver believes, partly do to his gullibility, that the Houyhnhnms represent all that is pure and wholly. How can this be true when the Yahoos, an inferior breed, are savagely tortured and used by both the Houyhnhnms and by Gulliver?
Gulliver views the Yahoos as a breed of humans that predominately show the qualities that he perceives have led to the destruction of modern man. Interestingly though, he sees no problems in exploiting them in a grotesque and inhumane way. This is especially ironic after Gulliver comments that "there [are] few greater lovers of mankind, at that time, than [himself]" (Swift IV. 1073). To fully understand Gulliver's love of mankind, one must consider his torturous use of the Yahoo's. In order to have sails on his ship Gulliver uses the skins of the youngest Yahoos he can capture because the older Yahoos skins are "to tough and thick" (Swift IV. 1104). Also, his canoe is "covered with the skins of Yahoos, well stitched together" (Swift 1104). Swift is emphasizing that although Gulliver thinks he has seen humanity at its purest, he is still ignorant and selfish - using whatever and whoever he can to better himself.
Next, the 'perfect' Houyhnhnms treatment of the Yahoos must be considered to prove that Swift is attempting to show that humanity is corrupt and will always take advantage of those considered sub-human. The Yahoos are constantly tortured as they are forced to work the fields of oats. Yahoos perform not only the physical labour of the day but are also required to "draw home the sheaves in carriages" (Swift IV. 1099) much like horses are required to do in Gulliver's homeland.
The Houyhnhnms' decide it would be advantageous to society to castrate the Yahoos. They decide at a meeting that if "practiced among the younger Yahoos" this intervention would "not only render them tractable and fitter for use," but would also "put an end to the whole species without destroying life" (Swift IV. 1098). This practice is not considered cruel by anyone in the Houyhnhnmian village, mainly because the Yahoos are considered so vile and hideous - often trampling down the Houyhnhnm's oats and grass.
This treatment of the Yahoos leaves one to consider that the Houyhnhnm race is not entirely decent and kind. In actuality they represent the absurdity of man living in perfect peace and harmony. Man, according to Swift, is irrevocably destine to pursue a better life, even if that means trampling the lives of those 'beneath' him. Swift's surface interpretation that Swift presents the Yahoos to show total irrationality and intellectual nullity while presenting the idea that the Houyhnhnms are "entirely rational and intelligent in all their behavior, their beliefs and their emotions" (Ward 170) must be disregarded. Swift presents the Houyhnhnms and the Yahoos together to present the obvious and subtle in an ironic fashion. As one, the Houyhnhnms and Yahoos satirically represent the undeniable truth that humanity is destine to run itself according to personal gain and reward - regardless of the cost to others.
Works Cited
Bloom, Adam. Greenberg, Robert & Bowman, William, ed. "An Interpretive Outline of
Gulliver's travels" in The Writings Of Jonathan Swift (A Norton Critical Edition).
New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1973.
Swift, Jonathan. Abrams, M. H. and Greenbalt Stephen. ed. Gulliver's Travels in The
Norton Anthology Of English Literature. 7th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2001.
Ward, David. Jonathan Swift: An Introductory Essay. London: Harper & Row
Publishers, 1973.
Works Consulted
Eddy, William Alfred. Gulliver's Travels; A Critical Study. Gloucester: Princeton
University Press, 1963.
Probyn, T. Clive. ed. The Art Of Jonathan Swift. New York: Harper &
Row Publishers, 1978.
Watkins, A. Susan. et al. Feminism For Beginners. Cambridge: Icon Books, 1992.
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