Swift a modest proposal text. Jonathan Swift 2019-01-13

A Modest Proposal Full Text and Analysis

Neither will merchants buy or sell children. But in order to justify my friend, he confessed that this expedient was put into his head by the famous Psalmanazar, a native of the island Formosa, who came from thence to London above twenty years ago, and in conversation told my friend, that in his country when any young person happened to be put to death, the executioner sold the carcass to persons of quality as a prime dainty; and that in his time the body of a plump girl of fifteen, who was crucified for an attempt to poison the emperor, was sold to his imperial majesty's prime minister of state, and other great mandarins of the court, in joints from the gibbet, at four hundred crowns. However, the sympathy he establishes at the beginning with the audience quickly disappears after a few paragraphs once his claim is introduced. Supposing that one thousand families in this city, would be constant customers for infants flesh, besides others who might have it at merry meetings, particularly at weddings and christenings, I compute that Dublin would take off annually about twenty thousand carcasses; and the rest of the kingdom where probably they will be sold somewhat cheaper the remaining eighty thousand. Swift again degrades Irish by depicting them as commodities rather than people. As entertaining as this text is, it is more than just a comic. But as to myself, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly dispairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this propasal, which as it is wholly new, so it hath something solid and real, of no expense and little trouble, full in our own power, and whereby we can incur no danger in disobliging England.

A Modest Proposal Full Text and Analysis

As to our City of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpose, in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will not be wanting; although I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs. While he sometimes argued that the Irish were also partially to blame for Ireland's problems, he believed that the English were responsible for essentially destroying Ireland's economy and culture. This digression continues with the observation that he is unconcerned about those adults who are ill, disabled, or starving, because there is nothing he can do for them. I again subtract fifty thousand, for those women who miscarry, or whose children die by accident or disease within the year. You may write more than one such letter. Jonathan Swift - A Modest Proposal Please note: All files marked with a copyright notice are subject to normal copyright restrictions.

A Modest Proposal

I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom. I enjoy this title because I can relate back to this title. My solution shall therefore provide for all American men, born to unfortunate parents who are as little able to protect their sons from the dangers that surround them as they are able to protect the rest of society, including themselves, from their sons. For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the number of Papists, with whom we are yearly over-run, being the principal breeders of the nation, as well as our most dangerous enemies, and who stay at home on purpose with a design to deliver the kingdom to the Pretender, hoping to take their advantage by the absence of so many good Protestants, who have chosen rather to leave their country, than stay at home and pay tithes against their conscience to an episcopal curate. Introduce the Proposal First you should briefly introduce the Proposal: in a paragraph or two, outline what it is about and when and why it appeared. He includes discouraging vanity, taxing absentee landlords, and encouraging domestic trade by purchasing Irish goods and services.

A Modest Proposal

Considering that Swift himself was a Dean in the Church of England, we can see how far he is willing to push his satire in order to bring the Irish and the British to their senses. Dissenters or Nonconformists, whose principles Swift rejected. Therefore I repeat: let no one talk to me of these and the like expedients until there is at least a glimpse of hope that there will ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them into practice. A Modest Proposal is of true brilliance. Perhaps the most powerfully ironic aspect of this essay is how this proposal is anything but modest.

SparkNotes: A Modest Proposal: Analysis

Next, you should outline the problem for which Swift proposes a solution: What is it? I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection. He constantly likens beggers to animals, even comparing children to? Although some claim that the Amazons would kill any male children born to them, this is false, a lie perpetrated, not unsurprisingly, by men. I have reckoned upon a medium, that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, encreaseth to 28 pounds. That the remaining hundred thousand may at a year Old be offered in Sale to the persons of Quality, and Fortune, through the Kingdom, always advising the Mother to let them Suck plentifully in the last Month, so as to render them Plump, and Fat for a good Table. The Proposer has already wasted many years on such idle, visionary, and ultimately useless thoughts. .

A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of other projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in the computation. Mindful of their Amazonian forebears, these numbers of women surely constitute an admirable and sufficient defensive force. And men frequently turn their violent impulses upon themselves; are 4 times higher among males than females, with men representing 79 percent of all suicide deaths in the U. If eating the children were off the table, the people would have to turn to realistic arguments like these, such as the encouragement of virtue and thrift. Swift's projector, after all, is only concerned with doing what is right for Ireland. Attending to the details Next, you should comment on some of the details which you may have found interesting.

Essay on Analysis of A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

I calculate my remedy for this one individual nation, the United States of America, and for no other that ever was, is, or, I think, ever can be upon earth. This is an ethos appeal. For this kind of commodity will not bear exportation, the flesh being of too tender a consistence to admit a long continuance in salt, although perhaps I could name a country that would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it. Analysis In A Modest Proposal, Swift vents his mounting aggravation at the ineptitude of Ireland's politicians, the hypocrisy of the wealthy, the tyranny of the English, and the squalor and degradation in which he sees so many Irish people living. The poor were extremely poor, often having to beg for food or money in the streets. To offer a corrective, the Proposer makes some computations of his own. By using such ridiculous ideas, Swift enables himself to introduce his actual beliefs.

Jonathan Swift

He not only continues to appeal to the readers and raise the stakes of his argument, but he is also trying to convince them that he's acting solely out of his concern with doing helping Ireland. Through his biting sarcasm, Swift mocks these people and persuades readers to pity the Irish and hate the speaker. Of course, Swift most likely never meant for it to be taken seriously by anyone. You may use the information at the start of the guide for this. The Amazons would, once a year, suffer to have sexual relations with men, but only of necessity, in order to insure the continued repopulation of their society.

A Modest Proposal: This Solution To The Irish Famine Was Satire At Its Finest

And the money will circulate among ourselves, the goods being entirely of our own growth and manufacture. Overpopulation and overcrowding contributed to the dismal conditions, and there seemed to be little hope that things would improve. I think the advantages by the Proposal which I have made are obvious and many, as well as of the highest importance. He utilizes his work to satirically place much of the blame on England in order to help the defenceless poor beggars. Second, as these very same boys and men are also the victims of male-on-male violence, they will thus be similarly protected from the horrific acts committed by their kind and cohort. Fourthly, The constant breeders, besides the gain of eight shillings sterling per annum by the sale of their children, will be rid of the charge of maintaining them after the first year. You should definitely comment on the word “modest” in the title: in Swift's day a “modest” proposal would be one which is simple, easy to achieve and unlikely to meet with objections.

SWIFT: A Modest Proposal?

I have reckoned upon a medium that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, increaseth to 28 pounds. Fifthly, This food would likewise bring great custom to taverns; where the vintners will certainly be so prudent as to procure the best receipts for dressing it to perfection, and consequently have their houses frequented by all the fine gentlemen, who justly value themselves upon their knowledge in good eating: and a skilful cook, who understands how to oblige his guests, will contrive to make it as expensive as they please. He has heard from an American friend that the flesh of a one-year-old, breastfed infant is delicious. Firstly, the plan will greatly reduce the number of Papists Catholics in Ireland—a wicked group. But, as to my self, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal, which, as it is wholly new, so it hath something solid and real, of no expence and little trouble, full in our own power, and whereby we can incur no danger in disobliging England. This requires you to explain the Proposal, comment on Swift's writing methods, and make a judgement and personal response to it. Many other advantages might be enumerated.