Neoclassical Period Jonathan Swift's "A Modern Proposal"

Tamara Mahmoud

Mrs. Wilson

English IV B

8 May 2013

Title

            In Jonathan Swift’s A Modern Proposal, the essay is written in the point of view if an economist. The narrator’s idea of improving the economy of Ireland is emphasized by Swift’s use of juvenalian satire and irony which is presented in a way to form a harsh reality that the poor people of Ireland are living in.

            In the very beginning of the essay, Swift shows a lot of emotion when it comes to the mothers and children of Ireland. “It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town or travel in this country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags…” (Swift 584). He feels sad for the mothers and children and the conditions that they live in. The families are living in a very harsh reality, especially the children of the poor. But eventually he goes on to form a “modest” proposal that eating children would help form a better economy. The children have to endure being eaten by the wealthy people and the mothers have to sell their children for a profit so they can live. The title of the essay is an understatement considering the fact that he is stating that eating children is the best idea for improving the economy. Eating children is not modest; it is barbaric.   

            Throughout the essay he uses a lot of statistics that go along with the logical appeal. Using statistics allows the reader to believe what is being read. Does the reader actually know if the numbers to certain calculations are real? It doesn’t matter because once the number is read it makes the passage seem believable. “I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration that of the hundred and twenty thousand children already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only one-fourth part to be males; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle or swine […] That the remaining hundred thousand may at a year old, be offered in the sale to the persons of quality and fortune through the kingdom” (Winston 584). After doing many “calculations” he came up with the idea that the hundred thousand children that are left are better off being sold to the wealthy for a dinner celebration. “I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection. I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food…”(584) When he says that he wants to “humbly” propose an idea, it goes along with the idea of the “modest” proposal. Humble is also an understatement to what he is intending. Eating children is not a humble act.

            He uses ethos in a way to make his proposal even more believable that devouring children is going to help the economy. He is proposing everything according to the fact that the narrator is an economist. “There is likewise another great advantage in my scheme, that it will prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children, alas! too frequent among us! sacrificing the poor innocent babes I doubt more to avoid the expense than the shame, which would move tears to pity in the most savage and inhuman breast”(584) . He starts off by mentioning his scheme, but the irony of the scheme contributes a lot to his satirical element in the piece. He claims that his scheme would reduce abortions and prevent women from murdering their children. But throughout the whole piece, the murdering of children to be fed to the wealthy people of Ireland is what is being proposed. He mentions that it is a “shameful” act to abort and murder babies, but yet that is what society is doing. His use of the word innocent allows the reader to know that the author knows that the children are innocent and shouldn’t be killed.

            From the eyes of the economist, what is being proposed would help improve the economy and the lives of the people living in Ireland. He states that it is better for poor parents to sell their children. He claims that children will become a heavy burden and it is better for them to improve their lives if they just sell their child to a wealthy person for their Sunday dinner. Whereas Jonathan Swift is using harsh satire to show the bad conditions that the people are living in.