Swift's Gulliver's Travels 'My Reconcilement to the Yahoo-kind in general might not be so difficult, if they would be content with those Vices and Follies only which Nature hath entitled them," (Chapter 12). The narrator's words illustrate a universal aspect of human nature: the creation of an "us vs. them" mentality that at its worst leads to racism. In fact, Gulliver's voyage to the land of the Houyhnhnms contains elements of racial tension and ethnic identity. The Houyhnhnms are the dominant race; although they do exhibit positive qualities to aspire to, such as altruism, intelligence, and rationality, they nevertheless persecute the Yahoos and even suggest castrating them to kill of their race. While the Houyhnhnms are admirable in many respects, Gulliver fails to notice their faults and failings. For instance, the Houyhnhnms are excessively rational and in some ways symbolize an exaggeration of human reason. Nevertheless, Gulliver wishes to remain with them; he is essentially a wannabe Houyhnhnm. In the process, the narrator denies his humanity. In fact, Gulliver also states, in Chapter 7, "I entered on a firm resolution never to return to humankind, but to pass the rest of my life among these admirable HOUYHNHNMS." When Gulliver is forcibly returned to England, he resorts to a state of semi-insanity by continuing to speak in Houyhnhnm tongue. Gulliver's denial of his race is indicative of the type of racial self-hatred that many African-Americans experienced as a result of the slave trade. Therefore,...
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