A Voyage to the land of the Houyhnhnmm | Gulliver’s Travels Book 4| Summary in English

Summary

In Jonathan Swift's *Gulliver's Travels*, Gulliver embarks on a journey to a land ruled by intelligent horses, the Houyhnhnms. Over time, he becomes disillusioned with humanity, seeing them as barbaric Yahoos compared to the rational, virtuous horses. After spending years among them, Gulliver is forced to leave when the Houyhnhnms deem him disruptive. Returning to England, he is repulsed by human society and isolates himself, hoping to protect the Houyhnhnms and their ideals. The story serves as a powerful critique of human nature, contrasting reason with the flaws of civilization.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gulliver, after returning home, is once again driven by his desire to travel, leaving his pregnant wife behind and captaining a ship named the Adventure.
• 😀 After most of his original crew die from a disease, Gulliver hires new sailors from Barbodas, but they soon plot to take over the ship and become pirates.
• 😀 The pirates capture Gulliver, chain him to his bed, and later force him onto a boat, leaving him near a desolate beach.
• 😀 On the island, Gulliver encounters strange creatures with deformed, human-like features covered in thick hair, which he calls 'monsters'.
• 😀 Gulliver encounters horses that exhibit intelligence and communicate with him, leading him to believe they are shape-shifting wizards.
• 😀 Through his interactions with the horses, Gulliver learns their language and becomes increasingly impressed with their intelligence and social structure.
• 😀 Over time, Gulliver grows attached to the horses, whom he calls 'Houyhnhnms', and comes to see them as a more evolved and noble race compared to humans.
• 😀 The Houyhnhnms, after learning about humanity, decide that Gulliver's civilization is not much different from the 'Yahoos', a degenerate species they disdain.
• 😀 The Houyhnhnms debate the future of the Yahoos and conclude that they should be castrated to prevent their reproduction and eventual extinction.
• 😀 After two years with the Houyhnhnms, Gulliver is heartbroken when they ask him to leave, feeling that he no longer belongs among the Yahoos in human society.
• 😀 Upon returning to Europe, Gulliver is horrified by the sight of humans, whom he now sees as Yahoos, and becomes reclusive, seeking solace in the company of horses.

Q & A

Why does Gulliver leave his wife and return to the sea?

Gulliver’s insatiable desire to travel the world resurfaces five months after his return home, prompting him to leave his pregnant wife and captain a ship named *Adventure*.

What happens to Gulliver’s original crew during the journey?

Most of Gulliver's original crew dies from a disease called calnetures, forcing him to hire new sailors from Barbodas.

How do the new sailors affect Gulliver's crew?

The new sailors from Barbodas corrupt the remaining crew and plot to take over the ship and become pirates.

How does Gulliver end up stranded on a deserted island?

After the pirates mutiny, they chain Gulliver to his bed and later force him onto a boat, abandoning him near a desolate beach.

What is Gulliver's first encounter with the strange creatures on the island?

Gulliver encounters a group of strange, deformed creatures covered in thick hair and bearded like goats. He feels repelled by their appearance but continues to explore the island.

How does Gulliver first interact with the horses he encounters?

Gulliver meets a horse, which communicates with him through a series of neighs. He realizes that the horses may be intelligent beings and begins to communicate with them, learning their language.

What is Gulliver’s impression of the Houyhnhnms (the horses) and their society?

Gulliver is deeply impressed by the Houyhnhnms’ rational and peaceful society. He begins to compare them favorably to humans, seeing them as pure, wise, and morally superior.

Why do the Houyhnhnms eventually decide to expel Gulliver from their society?

The Houyhnhnms conclude that Gulliver is too much like the Yahoos—human-like creatures they consider degenerate and corrupt—and decide to expel him to preserve their society's purity.

How does Gulliver view human beings after living with the Houyhnhnms?

After his time with the Houyhnhnms, Gulliver comes to despise humanity, seeing humans as brutish and corrupt, much like the Yahoos, and feels alienated from his own kind.

What does Gulliver do upon his return to Europe?

Upon returning to Europe, Gulliver is disgusted by the sight of his family and fellow humans. He isolates himself and spends most of his time speaking to the horses he buys, reflecting on his experiences with the Houyhnhnms.

What is the main moral or message of Gulliver’s Travels as expressed by Gulliver in the final chapter?

Gulliver concludes that the chief reason behind writing his account is to educate mankind, hoping to inspire a more virtuous society modeled after the Houyhnhnms. He advocates for principles like reason, fortitude, and benevolence.