A Modest Proposal

            Jonathan Swift was born in 1667 and lived his childhood a representatively Anglican minority. Throughout his life he witnessed turmoil between Anglicans and Catholics that was culminated by a civil war. Oppressive governments and aristocrats inspired Swift to engage himself in politics, and he became a supporting member of the new Tory government. Despite his direct involvement in politics, his greatest influence derived from his literary works. Swift produced many literary works promoting the Tories, but his literary achievements that influenced society to the greatest extent were his satires.

            The criticism founded within Swift’s satires was initially subtle; however, his later works such as A Modest Proposal were extremely shocking and provocative –and the most effective. The desperate conditions imposed on Irish society by English rule provided the inspiration for A Modest Proposal; yet, the Irish themselves are the butt of the criticism for failure to unite in a proactive and meaningful way. Thus, Swift provided A Modest Proposal as a logical remedy –no matter how ironic or blasphemous.

            Swift begins his faux panacea with a misleading emphasis on reason by preaching to the public about the desperate epidemic:

I think it is agreed by all Parties that this prodigious Number of Children, in the Arms, or on the Backs, or at the Heels of their Mothers, and frequently of their Fathers, is in the present deplorable State of the Kingdom, a very great additional Grievance; and therefore whoever could find out a Fair, Cheap and Easy Method of making these Children Sounds and Useful Members of the Common-wealth would deserve so well of the Public, as to have his Statue set up for a Preserver of the Nation. (Demaria, 496)

The argument initiated by Swift would definitely appeal to the public outcry; however, his essay soon diverges from morality to ironic logic. Swift suggests fattening up children beginning at the age of one in order to be fed to the upper classes of Ireland. The essay only delves deeper into unnerving detail as he describes the best tasting part of the child and even suggests recipes for cooking the child:

I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that 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 Fricasse, or a Ragout. (Demaria, 497)

More disturbing perhaps is the statistical support Swift provides for his recommendations in respect to the economy as well as the moral benefit farming children would have on the family unit: husbands would appreciate their wives more –even in pregnancy– and parents would appreciate their children to a boundless degree. Swift concludes by reassuring the reader he does not take pleasure in his recommendations, but that it is simply a viable and logical resolution. Robert Phiddian reveals that the eighteenth century reader would have realized that this is obviously not a serious proposal, but rather they would have understood it served another purpose: “We recognize that there is a gap between the narrator’s meaning and the text’s, and that a moral-political argument is being carried out by means of a parody” (Phiddian, 608). Thus, Swift’s satire proves it may function more effectively than if he had actually composed a legitimate proposal.

              Regardless of the fact that the majority of Irish suffering was imposed by English subjugation, Swift is severely criticizing the Irish through his satire. Swift is not only criticizing the political powers, but is focussing more on the masses for passiveness. The essay offers a proposal that of course would not be put in to action, and Swift is emphasizing that there are no other proposals or courses of action being put forth: “this recognition is not a solution; it is merely the beginning of our problems” (Phiddian, 608).

 

 

 

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