Compare the representation of family relationships in the work of 2 writers you have studied this term (Hamlet and Swift's 'Modest Proposal')

Perhaps more disturbingly still is the narrators argument in the paragraph form lines 41-47 which deals with the "voluntary abortions" which mothers were having in order to preserve their own well-being. He indicates that the reasoning behind these abortions was for money rather than to avoid shame, although this may be a slight fabrication on his part to support his argument. What this would imply in terms of family relationships is that the structure of the family was simply not strong enough, nor supportive enough. He seems to miss the crucial point that arguably the most important way to provide for a child is through love and nurturing rather than the provision of material things. Also his mention that these aborted children are "bastards" is an insinuation that they are the products of unmarried parents and possibly of unloving sexual relations. This would then tie into the later point that he later makes, that his proposal "would be a great inducement to marriage which all wise nations have either encouraged by rewards or enforced by laws and penalties" (lines 229-331). The effect in the family would then be that especially in the 18th century, it may not be considered a 'family' at all. The freedom of the unmarried couple would encourage less stability and the likelihood that either parent may have children by other partners. This could be a criticism on Swift's behalf of the lack of marriage within the proletariat. However here the narrator uses greed as the theoretical motivation for more marriages in the lower classes. He goes on to comment that "these children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a circumstance mot must regarded by our savages."

One of the most shocking statements made in 'A Modest Proposal' comes shortly after Swift makes his actual proposal clear. He intends to reserve twenty thousand children for breed, "whereof only one fourth part is to be male, which is more than we allow to sheep, black-cattle, or swine." With one swoop, he reduces a whole nation of children, and even the whole human race in impoverished Ireland to an economic bargaining tool. Upsetting and disturbing, he has ripped apart the whole concept of 'family' and replaced it with simply humans who breed. Emotion (and reason) is discarded as we find Swift in his satirical element. The idea that people however desperate for financial aid, could resort to this is so irritatingly shallow that it becomes rather humorous. It makes us question why what he writes has such an emotional impact, and what really is the necessity of family. The answers can only be explained in terms of emotional support and security and cannot be debased to an institution devised for financial gain, or for profit making. The narrator disregards any emotional value of the family, and in his perception there can be no security without financial backing. The idea that "one male will be sufficient to serve four females" is degrading and abhorrent, but one can see that in practical terms it has some shaky foundation. It is clear that it is precisely this cold practicality which makes 'A Modest Proposal' both brilliant and thought provoking.

In his concise argument he also manages to eliminate all need for mother-child bonding, bringing even the purest action of a mother breast-feeding her child down to the crudest level. He even suggests that in the spineless relations that he foresees will develop, mothers will actually need to be told to feed their babies, "always advising the mother to let then suck plentifully in that last month" (lines 100-101). This is more the advice we would give to a farmer regarding his animals than the to mother. Further need for maternal instinct is eliminated as wives are described as "breeders" (line 81) and the sad suggestion that mothers will be eager to go back to work as soon as their child is old enough to be sold. Therefore being able to bring in more income (thus also benefiting the tyrannical English landlords). The argument takes away all right for mothers to be mothers in any way except that which requires them to reproduce. It can be argued that this is all Gertrude has been reduced to in 'Hamlet', an instrument representing her gender, as Hamlet struggles to detach himself from her. It is precisely the sexual, reproductive side of his mother he wishes to escape. Interesting is that Swift tries to reduce women to only their gender, while Hamlet wants to avoid this part of them, specifically Gertrude and Ophellia.

Furthermore, in lines 329-341, the narrator attacks men's treatment of women, and in particular, their wives. He feels that only with the motivation of money will men treat their wives with the same respect they grant their "mares in foal, their cows in calf, or sows when they are ready to farrow." Beating and kicking them, a common practice, would now injure their income; let alone their own child. In 'Hamlet', there is a role reversal. It is Gertrude who appears to mistreat her husband, by possibly being an accomplice in his murder, and certainly knowing of Claudius's plan at the least. An abusive relationship is also present from Hamlet to his mother, but there appears to be no ill wish on King Hamlet's part to mistreat his wife, as his ghost appears to protect her from Hamlet's vigour in Act 3 Scene 3. We can see that in irradiating all need for intimacy in family relationships, 'A Modest Proposal' is as far removed from the intense, twisted relationships in 'Hamlet'- on the surface as it can be. As Swift's text is a work saturated with irony and satire, perhaps his actual point is exactly the opposite. He is placing blame on the political leaders of the time for allowing such a situation to arise, but he may be placing the predominant blame on the Irish. Not only the Government of Ireland whom he views as lethargic and foolish, but the masses who have allowed their children to become absorbed in a Capitalist state, and lost sight of the basic demands of humanity. As a result their otherwise binding and ultimately saving family bonds have begun to disintegrate in the grapple for a more financially fruitful life.

In 'Hamlet', Shakespeare's presents us with a greatly problematic family with a mesh of underlying grievances, which can be more fully explained with the use of psychoanalysis. The central family relationship in the play is that of Hamlet and his mother. This is obviously a shaky and destructive relationship; Hamlet seems to have obscured his mother's role as a maternal figure. The fact that his father has dies, and his mother has re-married so hastily forced Hamlet to associate his mother with the idea of sexuality. He does in fact show an obsessive, paranoid interest in her sexuality, finding it both offensive and fascinating. Hamlet sees her a sex-mad, but there is little foundation for him to do so. It can be acknowledged that it appears to be the strong sexual attraction which drew Gertrude and Claudius together, but it is only ever Hamlet and his father who point this out, making it less than reliable. Freud's 'Oedipus Complex' can explain one possible reason for Hamlets anger towards his mother. This suggests that as a child, Hamlet may have greatly resented having to share his mother with his father, wanted undisputed priority in her life. This would then have led to repressed desires to sexually posses his mother, and ultimately eliminate his father. For Hamlet, his father has already been killed by the start of the play. However there is still no chance for him to be able to now take the coveted position in his mother's life that he desires. Adding insult to injury is the fact that it is now his own fathers brother who had married his mother and filled the void. It is easy to see how this twisted scenario would create a confused state of mind, even regardless of the Oedipus Complex.

The incest that therefore penetrates this family is key to Hamlets frustration. He see the relationship between Claudius and Gertrude as incestuous, indeed the ghost of King Hamlet calls Claudius "that incestuous, that adulterate beast." Hamlet is likely to feel a desire to avenge his father's death, and possibly also jealousy towards Claudius. An interesting scene is Act 3 Scene 3 where the ghost appears to prevent Hamlet from causing further agony to his mother. Or is it possible that he appeared to prevent his son from taking his wife?

This scene also serves to show us that Hamlet does indeed idolise his father. When talking to his mother he likens him to Hyperion, Mercury, and Mars, assigning him qualities of leadership, grace and the traits of a true warrior. To him, his father is "Blasting his wholesome brother" (line 66). This loyalty for his father partly fuels his need to kill Claudius - but his enduring procrastination shows something is not allowing him to do it easily. Contrasted with Laertes, whose father has also been wrongfully murdered, we can see that he has no such delay in avenging his father. The telling difference may be that Laertes has no mother figure in his life. The reason could therefore be, that Hamlet may realise on a sub-conscious level that he actually needs Claudius in his mothers life to prevent his own incest with her. On another level, Laertes feels that to delay revenge would be to claim himself illegitimate. Unlike Hamlet he has no fears that he may be a bastard, a concept which consumes Hamlet's mind.

The issue of fatherhood in the play is also an important one Hamlet's father is obviously an absent figure, but he still strives to be his son. Although all he has of his father is memories, he constantly tries to resurrect him with words and images. In the opening scenes it becomes clear that Claudius now comfortable sits in his brothers old position, in every sense except that which allows him to be a father to Hamlet. He attempts to push his way into Hamlet's life in the beginning, saying "But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son..." to which Hamlet sneers "A little more than kin and less than kind." Hamlet needs to protect his father to assert his roots and masculinity, and therefore must kill this impostor father figure trying to replace him. This involves deciding between the two fathers, and this is not so easy for him as it would seem. King Hamlet is Hamlet's link to an honourable, legitimate past. It is the only way he can find his place in the world with dignity. To fail to support his father would be accept Claudius and therefore the illegitimacy and deceit which come with him. The statement which Hamlet makes, "father and mother is man and wife, man and wife is one flesh" (Act 4, Scene 3, Lines 53-54) is quite telling of his fears of their sexual relationship, but perhaps he also recognises that at present Claudius fills this position of his mothers husband and must be given due respect.

It is Hamlets blurred notions of female sexuality from which flow a central theme in the play. Janet Adelman discusses the concept that the maternal womb is contaminated by sexuality, and is a devouring and suffocating presence. The symbolism of an empty womb may be synonymous for Hamlet with sexual acts, and may also threaten to force him to return to it. Throughout the play Hamlet struggles to escape from the maternal influence. Gertrude herself is not actually portrayed as particularly wicked or powerful, but it is her inaction to prevent the chain of events spiralling from her husband's death which cause Hamlet to think of her as such. This causes more problems for the disturbed Hamlet as he feels that his own body has been sullied by his mother's actions. He fears the contamination will spread to him, and this causes his rash and panicked actions. He is sure that id female sexuality is polluted and incestuous, he can no longer be certain of who he is, and certainly whose son he is. This conception of the "Bastard" child corresponds to 'A Modest Proposal'. The narrator created by Swift also accepts the problem of the bastard child and feels that it is easier to kill (and eat) the child rather than marry the parents. An idea very prominent in Hamlets own mind when he says "To be or not to be", showing he has thoughts of ending his life. Swift seems to promote to some extent the usefulness of children with no certain father, but limits this at being able to kill and eat them more easily. He encourages males to have children by numerous partners, anticipating none of the problems which Hamlet is experiencing to arise in Ireland.

A very relevant difference between 'A Modest Proposal' and 'Hamlet' is the class difference. Marriage is essential in the higher nobility, such as Hamlet is involved in, and although affairs were obviously commonplace, they were much little discussed. In the lower classes marriage was not so essential to status, as they had little to start with, and so it was often disregarded. However this seemed not to have made much difference to the actual happiness of either situation presented. Swift, like Shakespeare, blurs the roles of members within the family, and shows us the importance of every part, and relationship functioning. Swift also writes 'A Modest Proposal' as a warning to the Irish lower classes to protect their own, and the shocking consequences which may occur if they ignore him.

Kennedy