By looking at the proposal I have taken out points that refer to swift giving information about what he is to propose and some statistical information as well. Firstly he says in the 6th paragraph “of these I have calculated there may be about two hundred thousand couples whose wives are breeders”. This is saying that swift has done a few estimates, and researched on what he has said. So he has done his homework. In the same paragraph swift also gives us information on how some women breeders will die due to the stress of giving birth, so there will remain a hundred and seventy thousand breeders. Swift then says he will subtract fifty thousand for those women who miscarry and whether the children die at birth because disease or accident. Swift also outrageously says in paragraph 12 that he reckons in his estimation that an average child will weigh 12 lbs when born! This I feel is way, way out and would cause mothers who were giving birth to be in agony and stress. But now an average baby in are time the 20th century a baby is on average 7-8 lbs. swift also says in paragraph 8 that each child who comes to the age of 12 will be not as expensive as a 5 yr old child, so they will only be sold 3 pounds and half a crown at the most in the exchange. Also swift suggests that nursing a beggars child would cost about 2 shillings, per annum with rags and cloths all inclusive. Swift then says in paragraph 15 that a good fat child carcass would cost around 10 shillings, so they would earn a reasonable amount of profit. Swift then, in the last paragraph says he will make no profit out of this business proposal as his youngest child is 9 yrs of age and his wife is past child bearing. This is all the information that swift gives about his proposal. Throughout the whole essay Swift says that he has thoroughly researched this idea. I have shown this above in this paragraph by showing quotations of swift working out calculations and making estimations.
I will now look at how swift in his proposal suggests of any argumentative points towards the proposal. Swift firstly starts by using irony and yet arguing his point by saying “object to those who walk through this great town” on line 1 of the proposal. He basically is saying that Ireland is a great country with great potential but yet there are many beggars and things have to be sorted out before it to late. Swift is arguing this point as he is emphasising the point that Ireland does require severe improvements. Other argumentative points that Swift makes are in the 4th paragraph of the proposal where he begins to say “one year old that I propose to provide for them in such a manner”. Swift is basically saying no matter what the out come he will provide for 1 yr old babies (food, water .etc.).This is basically Swift telling the government of Ireland that it is a serious case and he’ll do anything to get the right result. Furthermore in the proposal Swift says “After all, I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion to reject any offer proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally innocent, cheap, easy and effectual. Swift uses triplets here and this plays on the mind of the reader and is used in an argumentative way. This sentence is basically saying that swift is disgusted that the proposal will be rejected and innocent people will suffer if the proposal is rejected. Finally near the end of the proposal swift says in dispute way “Ask the parents of these mortals, whether they would not at this day think it a great happiness to have been sold for food, at a year old in the manner I prescribe, and thereby have avoided..” this basically means that the government should ask the parents of the children whether they would rather die at 1 or face up to be the perpetual and miserable life the parent is already living through. These are some of the justified arguments that swift dos say in the proposal.
I shall now look at how this proposal is written and how Swift uses satire. A satire basically means when someone is making fun about something but in all of that is hiding some serious issue. In other words going to the extreme to ridicule what swift is doing. In this proposal Swift uses satire in sarcastic words to show the reader ideas about solving the problem at hand and how to eventually solve them. Sarcastic words are used in satire to build readers attention, and make issues interesting. This form of writing invites reader to read the proposal till the end and makes them think about the issue which is presented. Satire can be powerful if the writer uses it correctly. If a writer uses sarcastic words incorrectly the reader could understand it like a bad joke or even think that writer is mad. Satire can shock people because it often presents foolish ideas. This is basically what swift does do in this proposal. Swift does shock the reader as he says about killing peoples own children and eating them or selling them to get out of poverty. At the time this was the only option that arised. I personally felt that swift did go to the extreme and was a bit vile and sick in his satire in the proposal. This basically shows how the satire can make swift look foolish, mad and a bit of a joke. This ends the satirical section.
Overall I feel the proposal by swift does eventually go to the extreme and causes the reader to be off putt by that. I also feel that the government were right to ignore the proposal and think of another option. I think this because swift’s option would cause Ireland to become out of hand and there would be many cannibals there as well and this would inevitably cause violence and mayhem. Additionally the overall affect of the proposal is quite touching in the sense that parents would have to sacrifice their new born just for a minute sum of money.
This concludes my essay of the effectiveness of the modest proposal.
