Who do the Yahoos represent in "Gulliver's Travels"?

Who do the Yahoos represent in "Gulliver's Travels"?

• A. A noble and heroic race.
• B. A sophisticated group of intellectuals.
• C. A brutish and uncivilized race resembling humans.
• D. A peaceful community of talking animals.

Answer: (C)

In "Gulliver's Travels," the Yahoos represent a brutish and uncivilized race resembling humans. Jonathan Swift uses the Yahoos to critique human nature and societal flaws. The Yahoos embody all that is base and savage in humanity—greed, lust, and violence—contrasting sharply with the rational, civilized Houyhnhnms, who represent an ideal of reason and virtue. This contrast highlights Swift's commentary on the moral depravity and irrational behavior he perceived in his own society. By depicting the Yahoos as a degenerate species, Swift encourages readers to reflect on the darker aspects of human existence and to question the qualities that define civilization.

In "Gulliver's Travels," the Yahoos represent a brutish and uncivilized race resembling humans. Jonathan Swift uses the Yahoos to critique human nature and societal flaws. The Yahoos embody all that is base and savage in humanity—greed, lust, and violence—contrasting sharply with the rational, civilized Houyhnhnms, who represent an ideal of reason and virtue. This contrast highlights Swift's commentary on the moral depravity and irrational behavior he perceived in his own society. By depicting the Yahoos as a degenerate species, Swift encourages readers to reflect on the darker aspects of human existence and to question the qualities that define civilization.