Blog 3 "A Modest Proposal"

Upon the first glance and quick read-through of “A Modest Proposal” by Dr. Jonathan Swift, I was appalled by the contents and ideas displayed throughout the whole essay. Being most concerning to me was the reasoning and logic the author used which was certainly most unpleasant and pathetic. He starts off saying that the idea he is proposing had been maturely thought out for years.  Despite the actual meaning of his reasoning and examples, which should appear bizarre to the average person, his essay has a structure of persuasion that significantly convinces the reader to adjourn poverty in Ireland by taking action. Swift satirically proposes that the Irish people mass produce babies and use them as food and clothing to solve the problem of poverty in the nation. However, the true purpose of his essay was to attack the government in Ireland and their handling of famine. After knowing Swift’s true intent of his modest proposal, I could point out the parts of his writings that criticize the government and the people.

At times I could not tell whether Swift was being sarcastic in his persuasions or actually had true intent. At first I thought his proposals of eating babies and forcing women the burden of giving away their own blood, family, to random strangers as food was true to his purpose of the essay. Swift states “at one year old that I propose to provide for them in such manner, as, instead of being a charge upon their parents…contribute to the feeding and partly to the cloathing of many thousands.” That statement he makes seemed to be affirmed strongly through his word choice as if he is demanding the attention of the readers. Thus including sophisticated writing and words, he makes the proposal of mass producing babies for food to solve the economic problem seem more plausible. The author then goes in to deeper persuasion by contributing examples of effects his proposal will bring solving the problem of poverty in Ireland. Such as poor children will end up turning to crime as a livelihood therefore parents should get rid of them. Also the reasoning that his proposal will lead to the decrease of the poor population thus benefiting everyone else. However, he goes even farther saying that “The skin of which, artificially dressed, will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen.” He proposes that people shall use the skin of human babies as clothing which seems ridiculous, but it seems as if he is characterizing the desperation of the Irish people. Swift characterizes the Irish people as savages and animals by proposing that they skin babies and use them as clothes. It made me think whether or not they would actually do something so inhumane and unconstitutional. Considering the situation over there in Dublin, maybe they would do something so harsh for survival. Also Swift goes into the taste and elegance human food will bring into society. “that a young healthy child well nursed, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled, and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricasie, or a ragoust.” Now his writing seems to have satirical meaning because he is describing human meat to be the next best thing bringing class and taste into society. He goes somewhat off the topic of solving poverty because instead of human meat providing the necessity of living, it will further style. It seems as if Swift included this statement to be emphasized as a less serious argument to point out that he is indeed being sarcastic to his “proposal”. Throughout his whole essay he uses many examples and arguments to support his proposals, which I again repeat was appalling to me. However the most emphasized part of the essay would have to be the conclusion. In the Conclusion Swift states, “I have no children, by which I can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, my wife past child-bearing.” The author contradicts all what that had been talked about in the essay by basically saying that he can’t abide by his own plan because he is unable to. Whether his statement is true or not, it assures that his proposal should not be taken seriously. Furthermore, he goes into real solutions of poverty near the end of the essay such as taxing, learning to love the nation, no factions, trusting spirit of industry and skill in shopkeepers, temperance, but satirically says that these measures would not challenge his proposal.