As was once said there are: ‘lies, damn lies and statistics.’
Although this had not been stated by Swift’s time, 1729, this possible manipulative exaggeration of evidence is existent in his “Proposal” with him using the terms; “computed”, “calculate” and “computation”. These are the statistics with which he has proven the worth of his “Proposal”.
Using Swift’s “computations” we discover that only 15% of the Irish population can “maintain their own children” and such is the dilapidation of the Irish colony this means that Swifts proposal is for a staggering 85% who have not the finances to keep their children. Therefore, if accepted, the whole 85% of the “breeding” population will support the economy. Still the actual subject has not been divulged to the reader but this argument will have already swayed the readers in favour of accepting whatever this "Proposal" is as it will aid the people so greatly.
“I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection”
Swift now decides it is time for the reader to discover the “Modest Proposal”, which is to eat a child at one-year-old. Such is Swift’s structuring of his “Proposal” he will keep the reader reading as they will undoubtedly wish to discover why Swift would believe that turning to cannibalism is an acceptable alternative to living in poverty. This is why he has previously explained many of the benefits. If he had revealed his surrealistic, sardonic suggestion immediately then not many people would have read through, it is an ingenious way to form an argument.
He then uses more of his calculations, which can be assimilated to the aforementioned statement on statistics. He states that less than 20% of the 85% born children (or 120000 annually) who survive the first year and whose parents cannot support them, will be kept to “breed” and only 25% of those are to be male.
Swift goes on to describe how fabulous the meat is and how much of it is needed for a meal. According to his wording one child is enough for two whole dishes at a party or when entertaining. In addition a child need only be “seasoned with a little” which is a massive benefit over the meats normally used in those days which require a lot of seasoning as they go off after only a few days.
“Infants flesh will be in season throughout the year,”
This is an improvement over the other delicacies of Ireland meats because they are only available at certain times of the year.
The sale of “Infants flesh” will decrease the “number of popish infants”, the catholic children. They would see this as an exceptional bargaining piece as the rich persons, the customers, are not catholic and they fear an uprising by them.
Swift again informs the audience of his “computing” by informing them that to keep a child to one year would cost two shillings. He also has added other sets of people to his equation “cottagers, laborers, and four-fifths of farmers” so his “Proposal” would be effective on their behalf as well as the beggars mentioned in the introduction of his “Proposal”.
The bodies of the bought child can also be used to clothe the rich who can afford the “flesh”. To do this the same process as that one used for the preparation of leathers would be applicable to this material.
Finally,
Swift enumerates his chosen six benefits as to why this “Proposal” will be effective for the restructuring of Ireland and it’s economy.
- “it would greatly lessen the number of papists”
- “the poorer tenants will have something of their own”
- “the nations stock will be thereby increased fifty thousand pounds”
- “The constant breeders” “will be rid of the charge of maintaining them after the first year”
- “This food would likewise bring great custom to taverns”
- “This would be a great inducement to marriage”
Swift has given great attention to the dehumanising conditions of the conditions in which the poor Catholics live in, he has done this through the implications of how terrible it is that the rich have to walk through these heavily populated dilapidated areas.
As you can see from the above my opinion is that Swift has eloquently and elegantly structured his arguments to conform to those standards which one would expect from a politically eloquent man, on matters of a serious kind. He has also listed the benefits, as shown just above, so the less intelligent of the literate population will still manage to comprehend the basic benefits rather then being overwhelmed by the complicated wordings of the outstanding gains.
He gathers the audience’s attention to the causes of the problems, which have been plaguing the Irish for generations, obliquely. Swift brings the extent of poverty in Ireland to the readers attention by admitting that this solution is only suitable to Ireland, he believes that no other country‘s far enough in debt to steep so low.
Swift draws the eye of the audience to the previous suggestions made by him and other established writers by ridiculing them;
“let no man talk to me of other expedients:”
My personal view is that he has done this in the hope that after his “Proposal” is rejected the authorities will then accept these previous suggestions.
This “Proposal” has been first agreed upon its qualities “by a very knowing American”, America was of course at this time the New World where many new varieties of foods and style of life are attempted. Swift met this “American” in “London” which was at the time the intellectual capital of the world. Both of these places have been mentioned to upgrade the standard views of “A Modest Proposal”.
Via the effective use of implication Swift has informed the reader that the landlords are not popular.
“Thus the squire will learn to be a good landlord, and grow popular among his tenants.”
Swift informs us that the beggars who are “aged, diseased or maimed” are dying “as fast as can be reasonably expected.” The aforementioned persons are “dying and rotting by cold and famine” and the “young labororers” do “pine away for want of nourishment”, in both factors, the old and the young, the people are dying of starvation. He also says on this matter “any time that they are accidentally hired as common labor, they have not the strength to perform it”. The audience can thus see that there is a vicious circle among the poor which means that no matter what, they cannot work, and therefore earn, because they have not got any strength as they have not had money to buy food, this process will continue always.
The informative content of the “Proposal” is strong and is in great detail. However my belief is that all of the information which can be gleaned from the “Proposal” can be summarised into just one quote from it;
“it is very well known that they are every day dying and rotting by cold and famine, and filth and vermin,… they cannot get work, and consequently pine away for want of nourishment,”
“A Modest Proposal” is written in a serious vein, which does not contain any obvious attempt at humour, but it is written in a dual voice, one of which is the serious mode and the other is in its satirical veining. The satirical voice also contains parallel strands, irony and sarcasm.
Starting with the ironic strand, this is most clearly demonstrated in the last paragraph of the “Proposal”. Swift ensures that the audience knows that he will not profit from the “Proposal” he is making.
“I have no children by which I can propose to get a single penny,”
“and my wife past child-bearing”
The entire “Proposal” is in fact littered with ironic statements but my opinion is that the above paragraph is the clearest view of this as he, being one of the upper-class, would not have seriously proposed in this way if there would be a financial benefit for him personally. I am saying that he would not have made the “Proposal” were he to gain from it himself. The “Proposal” is in itself, ironic as not one person could take Swift’s “Proposal” seriously.
From the beginning of the first paragraph Swift attempts to deceive his audience by the use of sarcasm in the setting of the dreary, “melancholy” scene which is presented. For example;
“It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town… when they see the streets, the roads and cabin doors crowded with beggars”
Contained within this is the sarcastic paradox of whether it is a melancholy object for him, having to see all of these beggars and companions every day, or for the beggars’ life and its style.
When first read this can be mistaken as a compassion felt by Swift as a writer towards these beggars but after some further reading one can be led to think again and discover that this is in fact the sarcastic cover for his psychological strategy for dealing with commoners. This is an effective combination that will keep the reader, reading and thinking.
This use of ironic writing was used by Swift to demonstrate the way that a person’s thoughts can be influenced, the same is true about his use of sarcasm. In the case of “A Modest Proposal” this has been used to get the upper-class to inspect the conditions of life in the poor lower-class regions and these people’s lifestyles. It has also been used to hopefully gain some recognition for the lower-classes. In either case Swift has clearly presented his message as such and his use of irony has presented this case in a humorous way to those who can follow Swift’s way of thinking.
Combining the two strains of satirical writing has produced a highly intellectual, sophisticated comedy, although the humour present is rather on the dark side. For example at this time the beggars mentioned could not read and as although this “Proposal” is about aiding these people’s economical standing they could obviously not afford one of Swift’s publicised works. Swift was entirely aware of this fact, he knew his publication was for the upper-class eyes only. He wrote this “Proposal” safe in the knowledge that no-one would take action against him in any form on the count of slander, since all educated audiences would think of his “Proposal” as a comedy.
From all of the above it is clear that Swifts “Proposal” is extremely good at all of the jobs required of it;
- how effective is it as an argument
- how effective is it as a piece of information
- how effective is it as satire
Swift has successfully drawn attention to the extremely dire economic state of Ireland and the incompetence of the British government to solve or even begin to contemplate, in Swift’s mind, these problems. This “Proposal” should be viewed as a fictional work, designed to entertain the upper-class whilst enlightening them upon the conditions of poverty in their own country.
This “Proposal” could be viewed as an attempt to change the ways in which both England and Ireland viewed the state of Ireland, which was in a lethargic state. It is masterful in its own nature, the way in which Swift has challenged the prospect of changing lives and living conditions, while entertaining the audience at the same time.
The true irony in “A Modest Proposal” lies not in analysing the minute details, but rather in the context of the “Proposal” as it is written.