Gulliver has traveled to four different countries and the last place he arrives at is Houyhnhnmsland. In that society, human beings, appear as Yahoos, are ruled by Houyhnhnms, the horses, who are super-reasonable. They speak clearly, they act justly, and have simple laws. They do not quarrel or argue, since each knows what is true and right. In the contrast, Yahoos are dirty, greedy and vicious.

In the novel, the Houyhnhnms show us a vivid example of Yahoos¡¯ unreasonable desire.

In some fields of the country, there are certain shining stones of several colors, which Yahoos are violently fond. When they discover them, they dig them out, carry them away and hide them, then still look round with great caution. Once the Houyhnhnm removed the stones where a Yahoo had buried them. The Yahoo began miserably howled and could neither eat nor sleep till the stones were put back in the same hole. Then the Yahoo took care to remove it to a better hiding place and recovered his spirits and humor.

In the Houyhnhnm's opinion, these stones had no use t

"Midway between the poles of the Houyhnhnms and the Yahoos, Swift places Gulliver. Gulliver is an average man, except that he has become irrational in his regard for reason."

I reckon that Gulliver's idea does not represent Swift's view. I think the author criticized the trend of Rationalism, which means "the world can be understood using reason alone, that it makes sense, that it's logical, and that even God can be understood by relying only on commonsense." Swift shows us that the super reasonable horses are impossible and useless models for men, they are shown to be an ideal gone wrong.

Unfortunately, Gulliver praises the life and virtues of the horses and was shuddered at the prospect of returning to England.

In the novel, Houyhnhnms' way of thinking and doing are quite reasonable. With clear purposes and reasons, they do everything properly. It is very much the same as our command over a computer. With correct inputs, it outputs the right results. But is this mechanical society our ideal pattern? I think the reason our civilization can pass down generation by generation is not reason itself, but our colorful emotions.

Some topics in this essay:
Gulliver's Travels, Notes Houyhnhnms, Gulliver Gulliver, Swift Gulliver, Unfortunately Gulliver, Personally Houyhnhnms, England Midway, shining stones, , horses super-reasonable, swift gulliver, stones yahoo,