Chapters 5-8

Gulliver spends the next two years discussing the things he’s learnt from the master. He argues that the English language cannot do justice to the refinement of Houyhnhnm thought and scholarship. Gulliver explains the travails of various European wars to the master horse. Gulliver also focuses on the many struggles for power and remarks on the futility of these struggles. The master exclaims that the physical weaknesses of European humans might rescue them from one another. However, when Gulliver lets the master know that Europeans have invented weapons of death, the master is utterly disgusted. Upon hearing about the manipulations that predominate European laws and legal systems, the master is disappointed that lawyers don’t become teachers of wisdom. He is especially disappointed by mercenary lawyers who specialize in manipulating the law to benefit whoever pays them to do so.

Gulliver then explains to the master that greed motivates governance in Europe, whether it be the emergent state or the well-established monarchy tradition. He also shares dark legal stories and touches upon the dubious ways in which vicious personalities rose to power. Gulliver explains that the people involved in trade and governance in Europe are extremely privileged and corrupt. He corrects the master when he mistakes Gulliver’s robust build for a sign of nobility. He shares that the European nobility is famously pale and sick-looking. On the contrary, a robust build usually indicates low birth.

Now that he is able to see the extent of evil and corruption in human civilization, Gulliver shares his desire to live among the Houyhnhnms. The master comments that Europeans not only seem physically weaker than the Yahoos but also seem poor at applying reason. To the master, Europeans seem like an accumulation of the worst natural tendencies. He also notes the similarities between the Yahoos and humans in that both are driven by lust and greed; they are submissive to their leaders, but quickly turn against each other.

Gulliver studies the Yahoos in an attempt to better understand human nature. When a young female Yahoo attempts to mate with him, he becomes certain of his own Yahoo-ness. Gulliver believes that the Houyhnhnms are able to live in complete harmony since they are able to perfectly apply reason. Even their parenting is reason-based, not emotion-based. They have arrangements in place to ensure the propagation of their species and a steady supply of domestic help. There is no discrimination between the genders, and the Houyhnhnms are shocked to learn of the extent of gender violence and inequality among humans.

Analysis

These chapters focus on Gulliver’s reasons to believe that the Houyhnhnm way of life is better than the human way of life. Houyhnhnm culture seems to present a veritable alternative to European culture, which considers advancement in science and weaponry as important signs of advancement. The Brobdingnagian king and the master horse consider Europe’s preoccupation with deadly weapons as a grotesque show of physical strength. To them, this also represents a propensity for pure evil. They further connect this to humans’ ignorance, not their knowledge. Gulliver’s accounts of the European legal system show that greed and corruption are the norm in these societies.

With the master’s tutelage, Gulliver finds himself wanting to avoid contact with humans. The master dissects the English notions of sophistication and propriety to show that the notions are just markers of greed and wastage.

Though Gulliver decides to study the Yahoos, he treats them in the same manner that humans treat animals: selfishly. Gulliver’s main goal here is knowledge accumulation. However, a female Yahoo’s uncontainable lust for him forces him to take note of their commonalities.

The Houyhnhnms achieve harmony by perfecting their ability to apply reason to everyday matters as well as to grander realities. Their society also values justice and equality. However, there seems to be little room, if any, for individual choice or agency. Notably, concepts such as love and emotional intelligence do not exist among the Houyhnhnms. The equality between the genders is in stark contrast to the rampant sexism of Europe.