How does Swift characterize the Yahoos in "Gulliver's Travels"?

Swift characterizes the Yahoos as brutish and lacking in reason to convey a critical view of humanity. He presents the Yahoos as a reflection of the worst traits found in human beings: they are greedy, filthy, and driven by base instincts. This portrayal serves as a satirical commentary on the moral and intellectual failings of society. The Yahoos lack any form of elevated thought or rationality; instead, they are guided by their desires and basic survival needs, which mirrors Swift's concern about the deterioration of human nature in his contemporary society.

This characterization allows Swift to emphasize the follies and vices present in humanity. By depicting the Yahoos in such a dehumanizing light, he urges readers to reflect on their own qualities and societal behaviors. Swift's use of the Yahoos as a symbol of moral degradation ultimately serves to critique the Enlightenment belief in the innate goodness and rationality of humans, suggesting instead that without reason and virtue, humanity can devolve into a base state reminiscent of these grotesque creatures.