Word on Gulliver's Travels - The Inferiority Gulliver Found in His Evident Descent

I expressed my uneasiness at his giving me so often the appellation of Yahoo, an odious animal, for which I had so utter a hatred and contempt: I begged he would forbear applying that word to me, and make the same order in his family and among his friends whom he suffered to see me. I requested likewise, ‘that the secret of my having a false covering to my body, might be known to none but himself, at least as long as my present clothing should last; for as to what the sorrel nag, his valet, had observed, his honour might command him to conceal it All this my master very graciously consented to; and thus the secret was kept till my clothes began to wear out, which I was forced to supply by several contrivances that shall hereafter be mentioned. In the meantime, he desired ‘I would go on with my utmost diligence to learn their language, because he was more astonished at my capacity for speech and reason, than at the figure of my body, whether it were covered or not;’ adding, ‘that he waited with some impatience to hear the wonders which I promised to tell him.’ Thenceforward he doubled the pains he had been at to instruct me: he brought me into all company, and made them treat me with civility; ‘because,’ as he told them, privately, ‘this would put me into good humour, and make me more diverting’ (Swift 300).

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Human nature is a very complex thing. Therefore, when we make discoveries about ourselves or are constituted as something we think we aren’t, it’s our natural instinct as humans to be defensive and dismissive of the evident. In Gulliver’s Travels by Johnathan Swift, this tendency is explored throughout the format, structure, and language; with Swift instilling those defense mechanisms and notions in Captain Gulliver, the main character, as he believes the Yahoos (the group he is classified under), are inferior to the Houyhnhnms.

To start, Gulliver is obviously mortified at the distinction the Master Horse has given him by calling him a “perfect yahoo”. With that said, Jonathan Swift, the writer, ensures to emphasize this character’s mortification by adding precise details about Gulliver’s attire.  I believe this is done to establish a precise, separating line between Gulliver and the Yahoos; the clothes are what distinguish them respectively and if Gulliver was without his clothing (the one thing keeping him from being completely classified as the group he considers inferior), he’s most likely aware that his dissmalls and defensiveness would lead to nowhere but a pit omitted of validity. That aspect of the story demonstrates the prominent theme that I’ll be emphasizing throughout this paper; the complexity of human nature when it comes to distinguishing inferiority and superiority. 

Swift exhibits this theme through platforms of the story’s construction. The first one I’d like to cover is the utilization of elevated language. “I expressed my uneasiness at his giving me so often the appellation of Yahoo, an odious animal, for which I had so utter a hatred and contempt…” (Swift 300). This is the line where Gulliver admits his aversion to be constituted as a being he considers inferior – and this is where the theme is echoed by the use of elevated language. Rather than Swift writing this simple, as most authors of the time perhaps would’ve, he writes with great depth. He enables Gulliver, the character, to go as far as classifying the Yahoo as an “odious animal”. It was/is still prevalent in our society for humans to deem those who they consider inferior as animals, but for Gulliver to describe a Yahoo as an odious animal adds a whole new layer of emphasis on his behalf. If that wasn’t enough, it is important to also highlight how Gulliver admits he “had so utter a hatred and contempt…” (Swift 300). Gulliver is bluntly professing his hatred and contempt for the Yahoos, and this further manifests how defensive he got after being considered something he evidently is. In short, I found the utilization of elevated language to be a powerful instrument in Swift’s novel. It not only articulates that social tendency Gulliver is demonstrating in greater depth, but it once again solidifies that prominent theme – the complexity of human nature when it comes to distinguishing inferiority and superiority.

The next platform Swift used to showcase Gulliver’s tendency was in the actual structure and form of the piece. From the first glance, the reader can argue that there is nothing special about the structure that’s visible to the eye – which is true, because the text is set up as a normal narrative would be. However, the structure and form of the piece are crucial to the echo of the theme I’ve discussed on a more observant level.

Swift structures this piece with diversity. One can evidently see that not only is the passage intended to be received as a narrative, but it is almost able to be viewed as a lecture, in a peculiar sense. The reason why I chose the passage in the first place was because I felt as if the words were being spoken to me by someone. As I’ve said, the tendency people have to become defensive/dismissive when they are constituted as something they think they aren’t is frequent. It is witnessed everyday in the world, but most people remain ignorant to it and continue enabling the perpetuation of that tendency. Moreover, I feel as if perhaps Swift was trying to lecture the reader about that. He was informing the audience of the tendency through Gulliver’s narration, so each respective reader can consider omitting it from their behavior.

The final thing I’d like to address is how a key moment in this passage enhances the prominent theme: the complexity of human nature when it comes to distinguishing inferiority and superiority. Gulliver, as all are aware, is an evidently ignorant and defensive man who chooses to constitute the Yahoos as inferior rather than consider their humanity (and the fact that he is one of them). Now, this passage isn’t too scene heavy, so I’d simply like to reiterate the clothing dispute I mentioned earlier.

The clothing, as I’ve said, is what separates and distinguishes Gulliver from literally being a Yahoo. Without the clothing, he is one of them in a literal manifestation – and I find that to be such a key moment to note because it highlights the absurdity of human beings and echoes the characteristics of Gulliver; the defensiveness and dismal, the complexity of human nature he possesses when it comes to distinguishing inferiority and superiority.

Gulliver’s notions are clouded with ignorance and it is apparent in the passage. The key moment vigors the prominent theme and solidifies the analysis I offered for the structure, form, and elevated language.

In short, Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift offer a very brilliant and relevant social commentary when it comes to human nature. He explored the complexity of the instinctive tendency people have when they become defensive or dismissive when they are constituted as something they think they aren’t. Swift emphasized this idea through the structure, format, elevated language, and overall passage.

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Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver’s Travel. Wordsworth Editions.