The full title of the essay by Dr. Jonathan Swift is A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People From Being a Burden to their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick. Sounds like a pamphlet you would find at your doctor’s office, and it reads like that too. In it, Swift describes his “foolproof” plan for saving his Irish brethren from poverty. Basically, Swift believes that the Irish peasantry can alleviate their economic struggles by selling their children to the wealthy as food. Don’t worry, he knows what he’s talking about. He’s a doctor.
In all seriousness, Swift wrote this essay as a sharp criticism of the overall inhuman sentiments towards the poor in Ireland during the time (1729). He goes to great lengths to explain how it would be cost-effective to sell the children and even describes various preparation techniques for them. At this point he sounds more like a chef than a doctor, especially when he says “A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout.” He continues on by taking jabs at the very people who would be feasting upon the children by saying “I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.” Not only was this was a hilarious essay, it also got the point across. It forced the people of Ireland to realize that the way their economy was set-up was detestable and that the only way things were going to improve would be if they banded together to lead an honest, more wholesome method without abusing anyone in the process.
His “foolproof” plan for saving the country sounds indeed more like a recipe at the very first glance, albeit a gruesome one. After finish the first three pages, I felt rather unsettled towards the author. Is he trying to be sarcastic or is he for real? I couldn’t really tell since the author appeared so scientific in his proposal – the number of young children available, how much each child can fetch, how the skin can be used to make gloves, etc.
Without the last few paragraphs, the so called proposal sounds like straight from horror movie in the 80s. However, upon reading the last few paragraphs, the vibe of proposal changed completely. I can finally rest easy about the proposal. However it grasps me again as one can clearly feel the author’s frustration and anxiety towards the sufferings his fellow Irishmen have to endure. The seemingly dark and evil proposal of his suddenly turns to be a screaming for help. One can clearly see how desperate the author was and the proposal becomes a bit less unacceptable since it is still better than a “vain, idle, visionary thoughts”.
I’d have to wholheartedly agree with you about Swift’s goals with this essay, how it was meant to show the reader how despicable the state of Ireland was at the time. Swift’s approach in this essay was perfect, throughout the first few pages I was starting to believe that maybe we should start applying his techniques to modern day America to possibly raise our current standard of living. The positives he listed seemed quite appealling; men wouldn’t beat their pregnant wives, we’d have a new bar menu item, the welfare mothers will be able to profit off of their babies, among others. Until I got to the last section where Swift describes what someone may suggest would work to solve Ireland’s problem I held the belief that Swift was a connossieur of the finest baby-meats. This portion of the text got me thinking about Swift’s suggestions; buying domestic goods, teaching landlord’s to be merciful and compassionate, etc. I asked myself why would he not approve of such suggestions yet be set on eating a 1 year old baby. Then I understood the goal of his essay was to make the reader consider these options, although they were briefly mentioned, as the true solution to Ireland’s dismal problems.
I had to do a double-taking on the reading to comprehend the Satirical tone in which Swift wrote. After all the “Proposal” is everything but “Modest”.
After reading passages such as : “A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout.” and “I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.” I couldn’t help but think that the author hyperbolic and ironic.
But it wasn’t until class discussion that I understood the author was satirical at its culminating point since the “Proposal” sounded realistic with all its details and examples that I started thinking whether or not its monstrosity could have been possible.
In all Swift’s Swift’s attempts at prodding the Irish government regarding its social state of affairs was sublime.
Rilda M.
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