Master Hyouhnhnm And Tripitaka Research Paper

Due to Master Hyouhnhnm’s and Tripitaka’s authority, both characters face a set of expectations from their peers so their ability to meet those expectations reflect how their authority changes throughout the novels. Tripitaka’s authoritative expectations derive mainly from Chinese ideological beliefs about religions like Buddhism and Daoism. The main religious figures in both religions are pictured as incredibly powerful creatures; thus, Kuan Yin and the Buddha are expected to be near-perfect beings in Monkey. Since they are the ones who have granted authority to Tripitaka, Tripitaka is also expected to be a strong religious figure capable of traveling from China to India and back. Thus, when each of the disciples meets Tripitaka, they have

When Gulliver first arrives to the island, he has a condescending nature about the Hyouhnhnms, but as his expectations about them are exceeded, he begins to revere them. Gulliver originally expects the Hyouhnhnms to behave similar to the horses found in England, but he discovers that are actually intelligent, completely rational creatures, especially Master Hyouhnhnm. Gulliver then begins to expect to receive knowledge about Hyouhnhnm culture and see Master Hyouhnhnm behave completely rational. Thus, when Master Hyouhnhnm teaches Gulliver about the Hyouhnhnm’s have no concept of war or lying and the rational way they breed, Gulliver’s expectations have been met. (Swift, 220) As a result, the amount of authority Gulliver gives to Master Hyouhnhnm begins to exponentially increase until Gulliver is almost fanatical about the Hyouhnhnm

Monkey’s satirical nature often involves making fun of the Chinese bureaucracy so the novel’s authority figures are constantly portrayed as inefficient, unintelligent, corrupt, or cowardly. Tripitaka is no exception. Due to Tripitaka’s cowardly nature and general uselessness in the novel, the reader quickly loses all respect for Tripitaka as an authority figure. Instead, Tripitaka appears more like a figurehead who is easier to laugh at than respect. In Gulliver’s Travels, the reader also has much less respect for authority figures in comparison to the novel’s characters. Despite Gulliver’s respect for Master Hyouhnhnm, the reader does not feel the same way due to the book’s satire. The book clearly makes Gulliver’s love of Hyouhnhnm’s rational culture an object of satire through Gulliver’s incredibly harsh views on humanity as well as his apparent craziness shown by him “conversing with [his two stable horses] at least four hours everyday…they live in great amity with me.” (Swift, 250) By portraying Gulliver as a madman, the reader begins to disagree with Gulliver’s beliefs about Hyouhnhnms, especially his adoration of Master