Overpopulation has been
an ongoing problem for a long time, with no solution until Jonathan Swift’s “A
Modest Proposal”. As Swift states in his
essay:
These mothers instead of being able to work for their
honest livelihood, are forced to employ
all their time in strolling to be sustenance for their helpless infants who, as
they grow up, either turn thieves
for want of work, or leave their dear native country, to fight for the Pretender of Spain, or sell themselves
to the Barbadoes (Swift loc 6-8).
This statement is
Swift’s subtle way of explaining to the audience how Ireland looks at the
papists of the community. Swift’s
sarcasm of boosting economy and reducing the population by the slaughtering of
infants for gourmet food and using their skin for women’s gloves and men’s
summer boots is a grotesque yet dramatic form of irony. What Swift is getting at is the landowners
are blaming the Catholics for the economic downfall of Ireland, whereas the
rich land owners are really to blame.
Swift’s way of computing
a profit by the infant, by the pound, and to the shilling making a parody of
the wealthy land owners. Along with enhancing
the economy, Swift also makes a remarkable point of diminishing the amount of
abuse women are burdened with from their husbands, fearing the loss of a
product he will make money on. As Swift states:
Men would become as fond of their wives, during the time
of their pregnancy, as they are now
of their mares in foal, their cows in calf, or sow when they are ready to
farrow; nor offer to beat or kick them
(as is too frequent a practice) for fear of a miscarriage (Swift loc 101-104).
This would cause less
criminal acts, including the common problem of thievery. Swift is trying to get across the way the
country can work together to stand up for their rights, instead of the wealthy
pushing the poor away, and considering them nothing more than their
laborers. Since there will be less
children without food, there will be less crime, less begging, and more
wealth. Although this proposal was
very emotionally diverse, Swift was able to clench the attention of the
audience in what was really happening in Ireland.
Darcy,
ReplyDeleteI like your summary of "A Modest Proposal" It seem to hit all the points that Swift was trying to make. Keep up the good work.
This is a good analysis. You are right that Swift clenches the audience's attention. He left no social class out of his proposal. I also liked how you included the quote about abuse. That one stuck with me as I was reading it for the first time.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your way of summarizing Swift's work. You touched on all the great details of the paper well. I think even though Swift was extreme on his approuch, he made his point very clear.
ReplyDeleteHello Darcy,
ReplyDeleteI liked the way that you summarized Swift’s essay, and I never thought about how Swift was being sarcastic when it came to boosting the economy by slaughtering infants for all of those nasty things. Swift suggesting that the Catholics are the reason for the economic downfall of Ireland and that they are driving the Protestants out of the native country and into the arms of the Pretender of Spain is an excellent point. Great job!
Your analysis is very good. I find that I am in agreement with you on the reasons and attitude behind Swift's proposal. I liked that you included the quote about men being fond of their wives as this examples one of the the potential benefits in his proposal.
ReplyDeleteAngie
I really like your analysis. the way you summarized his story made it very easy to understand and was well thought out. You were able to cover the entire story in a much shorter txt and kept it interesting. Well done
ReplyDelete