HaCKeRz Kr0nlcKLeZ 1/HaCKeRz Kr0nlcKLeZ.iso/anarchy/essays/schoolsucks/swift.txt

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Swift's "A Modest Proposal"

In his lengthy literary career, Jonathan Swift wrote many stories that
used a broad range of voices that were used to make some compelling
personal statements. For example, Swifts, A Modest Proposal, is often
heralded as his best use of both sarcasm and irony. Yet taking into
account the persona of Swift, as well as the period in which it was
written, one can prove that through that same use of sarcasm and irony,
this proposal is actually written to entertain the upper-class. Therefore
the true irony in this story lies not in the analyzation of minute details
in the story, but rather in the context of the story as it is written.
        One of the voices that is present throughout the story is that of
irony. The story itself is ironic since no one can take Swifts proposal
seriously. This irony is clearly demonstrated at the end of the story;
Swift makes it clear that this proposal would not affect him since his
children were grown and his wife unable to have any more children. It
would be rather absurd to think that a rational man would want to both
propose this and partake in the eating of another human being. Therefore,
before an analyzation can continue, one has to make the assumption that
this is strictly a fictional work and Swift had no intention of pursuing
his proposal any further.
        One of the other voices that is present throughout the entire
story is that of sarcasm. In order to understand this further, a reader
has to comprehend that Swift, becoming infamous after Gullivers Travels,
was a member of the upper-class. Right from the first paragraph Swift
attempts to fool his readers by the sarcasm of the dreary scene that Swift
presents. For example, he mentions that it is a melancholy sight to see
beggars and their children on the street. The sarcastic paradox in this
statement is whether it is a melancholy object for him, having to see
homeless people every day, or for the beggars lifestyle? Upon first
reading this one may be led to believe that Swift is a compassionate
writer attempting to feel the pain of the beggars. But as the story
continues, a reader can look back and note that he is using a sarcastic
tone and the only sad sight that he sees is the fact that people of his
status have to deal with commoners. It is a good combination that makes
the reader think twice about any other statements, and the voice used,
after the first paragraph.
        This leads to the underlying statements that appear throughout the
story. It is quite clear that Swift has strong feelings of resentment,
bordering on hate, for the poor people that wonder the street. For
example, he tries to qualify his proposal by saying, "it is very well
known that they are dying, and rotting , by cold and famine, and filth,
and vermin . . . they cannot get work and consequently pine away for want
of nourish.". Once a reader understands this, they can see the true
purpose of his proposal. He wants to lower the population of beggars in
his country, so what better way to do it than by putting an end to the
younger generation of beggars? This is also proven since throughout the
story he only mentions that the upper-class of society would be able to
purchase the sacrificial children. The upper-class would also take the
carcasses and use them to, "make admirable gloves for ladies summer boots
for fine gentlemen.". Also, when he makes his calculations as to how
many children would be available for sale, he never takes into account the
children from the rich families. In short, Swifts message is that rich
children serve a purpose, the advancement of Ireland,  while poor children
are nothing but a burden to the republic.
        One other clear indication that Swift was motivated by his hatred
for the poor is the list of six reasons that he write to qualify his
proposal. In the third statement, Swift explains how by buying the
children and then selling them to their friends, the upper-class can keep
on thriving. This was a plan to get themselves even more rich, as Swift
states, "the money will circulate among ourselves, the goods being
entirely of our own growth and manufacture.". Secondly, he also compares
this type of meal to that of eating a pig. He elaborates by naming a
variety of ways that you can cook the child, use if for bacon, or to make
clothing.He never once mentions what the poor people can gain after they
have been paid the purchasing price. He only mentions the benefits of the
rich. Yet,Swift wants the writer to believe that he wasnt attempting to bring
harm to the people of his country, on the contrary, he was only trying to
make his friends rich. This is another demonstration of the sarcasm and
irony that Swift uses to both persuade and deceive the reader.
        Opponents to this analyzation of A Modest Proposal would agree
that there is irony present in the story, but it was intended to
demonstrate the irony that a writer can use to persuade readers in a
different sense. In this case this proposal was intended to make the
upper-class examine the conditions under which the lower class lived. In
fact it was intended to help the lower-class to gain more recognition from
the upper class. If a reader does take his proposal seriously, then the
use irony and sarcasm in Swifts writing is exemplified. But, if a reader
takes note of the irony they will notice the true point of the story; the
assistance that the lower-class needs. Either way, the irony is present
and Swift gets his message across.
        In response, one could argue that the whole context of the story
must be taken into account. First of all, one must take into account the
environment in which the story was written. During this time period, the
beggars that Swift describes could not read, much less afford to buy one
of Swifts works. Swift was well aware that his audience was the well-to-do
upper class. He could write proposal like this knowing that there would be
no repercussions since the upper-class would treat this as a comedy.
Actually, the lower class could have revolted fearing that their children
were in danger if they knew of the story. In effect, it is a combination
of both propaganda and humor aimed for the educated audience. Secondly, if
Swift did want to help the lower-class, he wouldnt have created an
exemption for himself in the last paragraph. If he wanted to initiate this
plan to help the lower-class, then he should have been the one to start it
all. Also, why would he propose such a heinous plan that involves both the
sacrifice of another human as well as cannibalism and expect to be taken
seriously?
        Very few authors have had their works analyzed and critiqued as
thoroughly as Swift has. Many of these essays have dealt with the question
of the true purpose of A Modest Proposal. One reason that this is so
difficult to understand is because in actuality there is a dual irony in
this story. Referring back to the example of the first paragraph, a
melancholy object can work two ways. Again the question arises; who is it
sad for? Even in todays world, there are some people that give money to
the homeless, because the homeless are in a sad situation, and there are
people that vehemently refuse to give money to panhandlers and they get
sad because they have to be bothered by the homeless every time that they
walk by. It is difficult to distinguish which one of these dissenting
views of irony is correct, that is assuming that one of them is valid.
This is a difficult task because we do not fully understand the
environment in which it was written, we can only analyze the voice in
which it is written. A personal opinion would be that he wrote this story
purely for the amusement of the upper class. This is qualified because, as
stated before, during the time that this was written the beggars could not
read and could not afford one of Swifts works. Also, demonstrating his
well executed use of irony and sarcasm could have gained him advancement
among his peers.
        A reader has to conclude that a work of this nature, from such a
dynamic author, must be read with both some literary awe and criticism.
One can spend many hours trying to  analyze the words, the sentences and
even entire paragraphs to find a deeper hidden meaning in this story. Yet,
this story should be viewed as a fictional work and as one of the best
demonstrations of  dual sarcasm and irony combined. Anything beyond that
would be purely hypothetical and would distract from the purity of this
story.

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