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Jonathan Swift's Proposal Essay

706 Words3 Pages

In this piece of literature, we find ourselves disturbed by the solution provided by Jonathan Swift. By the year 1729, the people of Ireland suffered from overpopulation, poverty and disease. Not only does his proposal sound horrifying, but it seems like it is very ironic how simple it can be to solve problems that we still have today. Swift suggests that the people consume their kids by the time they reach the age of one. Furthermore, the essay was written to convince the people of why the proposal should be adopted.

In my opinion and for the sake of the time being I agree with Swift's proposal and view of the future of Ireland. For starters, his major goal is to find the perfect way to solve the many problems they face. As we can observe …show more content…

Swift also states the positive outcomes to health and the best way to consume the child. "Infant's flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March, and a little before and after; for we are told by a grave author, an eminent French physician, that fish being a prolific diet, there are more children born in Roman Catholic countries about nine months after Lent than at any other season; therefore, reckoning a year after Lent, the markets will be more glutted than usual, because the number of popish infants is at least three to one in this kingdom: and therefore it will have one other collateral advantage, by lessening the number of papists among us." (par 14) Because it is in our best interest to survive and compete with one another, an innocent and helpless baby could not fight back or be able to comprehend what is happening. It is in our nature to have an advantage that will benefit our species and a small child is not going to get in the way of that. It seems likely that if in the 1700s it was not morally wrong to think about eating a child it could have solve the …show more content…

"Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed, and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken to ease the nation of so grievous an encumbrance." (par 20) Getting the attention of the mothers by giving them a sign of relief that they will not have to take care of their children anymore. Also, making them realize that there would be positive outcomes and giving up their child would make them gain much more. It also reveals to them that this proposal can simply be a business and a very effective way to have kids without having to worry about their financial stability or safekeeping of their

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My Majesty, King George II, I am writing to you to explain Mr. Swift 's zealous and also absurd proposal on what we shall do with the young children of Ireland. In Mr. Swift 's "Modest Proposal", he suggests turning the children of Ireland into "sound and useful members of the Commonwealth". The main idea here is to turn the children into livestock, being used for sale and consumption. According to him, this solution benefits Irish society by providing a good source of nutrients to the commonwealth, as well as a reliable income for poorer families in Ireland.

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The essay “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift was first published anonymously as a pamphlet in 1729. The form of this essay consists of an introduction of his proposal in which he presents the situation of Ireland at the time and builds up momentum towards his proposal, then in the main body he presents his proposal and further backs it with arguments convincing readers of its efficacy and conclusion stating that he is only doing this for the “public good”. Swift unswervingly addresses the state of Ireland, which at the time of English warfare (1629-1640) was left in ruins. Although Swift wrote this essay in 1729, the country took 100 years for the state to rebuild itself.

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However, the proposal seemed so heart-wrenching and far-fetched, it repulsed the audience by his description of when and what age to harvest the children as if he really believed his proposal was the solution. The way he described the women and children as beggars on the street in the beginning was emotionally difficult to read because, he gave the reader a vivid mental image. One part showed great imagery as he discussed how the children could be “stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled” (Swift 2), which the reader could now picture by him using terms people use when cooking animals. This piece of imagery shown indicates that the Irish government was treating its lower class no better than animals. Another strong image is created when he suggests using the children’s skin to make lady’s gloves and men’s summer boots, which is terrible and gruesome to even think about.

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At the time when Swift’s proposal was made, Britain’s dictatorial reign in Ireland had left the nation in poverty and disarray. Criticising a nation was much easier to do in a joking tone or be harder to read rather than direct and upfront. Swift wanted to discuss these issues and found by writing in satire he could have the readers’ attention in way that a seriously written piece could not reach. Satire is present when Swift convinces the audience that he is an empathetic individual introducing the proposal with a sophisticated and compassionate manner beginning in the sentence, "I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection (1)," luring the reader into a sense of false trust as he begins the descriptions of the poor in Ireland. The reader is led to believe at first that this is a serious essay however it is not until deep into the proposal the reader can see how Swift uses satire to propose his thoughts found in the sentence, “a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled;” continuing on that, “no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricasie, or a ragoust (1).”

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While the poor people of Ireland continue to breed, the rich will have elaborate feasts and dinner parties with the meat of peasant’s children. The idea of the poor raising food for the rich as a solution to poverty is ludicrous as well as highly ironic. The rich will continue to enjoy the luxuries of the upper class such as wealth, power, and fine dining, while the peasants raise their meat for them. The upper class is undoubtedly the British that rule over Ireland, and by eating their oppressed they show their power and superiority. Swift is commenting that British control in Ireland is as treacherous as people eating their own babies as means to survive.

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In Jonathan Swift’s A modest proposal he expresses his idea of how to deal with overpopulation and increasing Ireland’s wealth. However, is he serious or not? The idea of overpopulation comes from the stereotype that Catholics have a lot of children. Swift expresses sympathy and the need for a solution.

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