Jonathan Swift’s satirical “A Modest Offer” is told in 1700. Swift was a highly educated, active, and politically engaged person. His writing reflects this. Swift discusses the difficulties Ireland faces due to its increased poverty in his writing. The author also discusses the problems that lead to this, including the fact that this is not an easy or logical problem. He also gives a visual of “crowded streets” in the country (Swift 377). He talks about the difficulty in improving their living conditions or economic situation because of this growing and worsening condition. Swift suggests that a small percentage of poor children’s births could be sold to eat in order to end or at least minimize the poverty. His writing assumes that the reader will understand it’s satirical and not take it literally. They are also expected to take the problem addressed seriously.
The original intention of this document was that it be read by all the people in Ireland. The group is divided into two groups: the wealthy and the poor. This document was intended for the wealthy. Swift was primarily writing to the Irish residents who could afford the cost of raising and educating their children. Swift’s solution to the poverty problem is a bit surprising at first. The article makes it seem that the solution is not important, but the problem is. Swift’s writing was intended to encourage readers to contribute to the rebuilding of the economy and society, so that everyone benefits, rather than just the upper-class. Swift explained to the reader, in a mocking tone, how the upper class could benefit from feeding on the children.
Swift was deeply concerned about the Irish people’s lack of concern for their own economic well-being and Swift also wrote the essay to express his dismay at the state of Ireland. The text focuses on the large number of families and poor people who were raising many children in similar conditions. Swift’s answer to this was that he sold the children as clothing and food to wealthy families. Poverty does not only affect one race, region, or country. The misery of people from around the world and its infinite and catastrophic consequences was felt by millions. This message is not difficult to comprehend at first. It’s because poverty has spread across the globe.
Swift’s work addresses poverty on many levels: overpopulation, indifference to the poor, and attitudes towards them. Swift (377) describes the poor as “all in drags and begging… strolling to beg for food” (Swift). He explains poverty as a cause of theft. The need to replace what is missing is created by poverty, which also reduces the chance for someone to get a good job. Swift goes on to describe the great grief that comes from the sight of beggars in the street. Swift goes on to explain that the burden of children born into poor families is felt by their parents and also by the nation. He says that a child can survive on the mother’s breast milk from birth to age one. Swift’s idea is that, after a certain age, low-income parents may find it difficult to care for their child. Swift suggests that the poorest families sell a small number of their children as food.
Swift’s essay continues to address the issue of overpopulation. Swift supports his argument by presenting statistics on the number children who are born each year and could be bought. The number of children born to poor parents is calculated by subtracting the miscarriages (which are not counted), accidents and the families who can support themselves from the overall population. He believes that his proposal can help reduce the number abortions. Swift believes his proposal is going to have a major positive impact on this country. Firstly, this would decrease the number or children crowded on the street. Parents would be able to earn more money by selling the infants. They could even do this annually. Swift claims that no alternative solution is viable, but encourages his reader to seek out another option that resolves all the problems that Swift’s proposal addresses.
Swift’s essay also touches on the attitudes society has towards the poor. By selling these babies, he explains, the economy will be boosted by the sale of the babies. Swift elaborates by saying that, “the stock of the nation…will be increased by fifty thousands pounds per year” by having money circulate within the country. Swift states that Swift’s assertion is not the only economic benefit. This would benefit not only the lower class but also the upper class. They would use this to make any changes in the country. He goes on to suggest several dishes made from babies. However, most of them are only accessible by the wealthy. Swift mentions this because he believes that readers are more interested in the future benefits than the present state of the people. Swift’s perception of the society around him was one of indifference.
Swift’s essay makes it clear that he wants to sell children for food. However, this is not his intention. Swift’s essay makes it clear that he does not intend to suggest that Irish people eat children. The task is then to determine his true argument. By illustrating the state of the nation in a literal way, the proposal brings attention to its deterioration. Ireland’s society is best illustrated by the idea that rich people are overfed to feed poor ones. The use of the word “preparation” to describe the children’s situation is becoming more and more prevalent. Swift draws parallels between eating a person and other methods of destroying a people or nation. He suggests, in an extremely literal manner, that a country is consuming itself as well as its people and assets. Swift uses the entire essay to remind the reader about the social and political divisions in Ireland and their problems.
References
Original: Furthermore
Paraphrased: In addition
Swift, Jonathan. “A modest proposal for preventing children from poor families to be a burden on their parents or country, and for making the children beneficial to the general public.” Readings for writers, 15th edition. Editors JoRay Metherell and Anthony C. Winkler. Boston: Cengage Learning. 2016. 377-383.
