Swift’s proposal is also interspersed with words such as ‘souls’ and ‘desponding spirit’ too. This choice of emotive vocabulary is in sharp contrast to the depersonalising language previously used. At this point, the reader is unsure of where the author’s sympathies lay. Swift encourages the reader to look beyond the words. Other words, such as ‘melancholy object’, ‘breeders’ and ‘grievance’ are used out of context. If Swift was writing as though he was against the poor, then those and other words could have been substituted with far more brutal vocabulary. However, even still, the piece becomes more subjective rather than being objective in the opening. However, even still, the piece becomes more subjective rather than being objective at the beginning. Swift wavers away from using the legal and technical language from the opening. He uses fairly reasonable language at the beginning, “…I think it is agreed by all parties that this prodigious number….”, compared to the bizarre language, “therefore one male will be sufficient to serve four females”, in the latter part of the proposal. This indicates to the reader that the author’s intentions are far deeper than what is written, as the use of language must have changed for a reason.
Swift, to indicate his intentions, uses irony and imagery, to highlight the plight of the Irish. Irony accentuates the emotional detachment felt by the colonising British towards the Irish that lead to the atrocities committed against the Irish citizens. The irony begins with the title, ‘A Modest Proposal’. There is nothing modest about eating
the infants of impoverished Irish citizens. The technique turns on the assumption that his audience, regardless of their national or religious affiliations or status will agree with the fact that eating children is morally and socially unacceptable. Swift suggests eating poor Irish children is acceptable particularly at weddings and christenings. “I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or ragout”, indicates Swifts biting humour and use of imagery when talking about the children. The reader is horrified at this suggestion and must look beyond the words to determine the true intent of the proposal, as know-one in their right mind could possibly say such an abhorrent comment without another motive. “The skin of which, artificially dressed, will make admirable gloves for ladies and summer boots for fine gentlemen”, strengthens Swifts biting humour and his use of imagery. By saying the word ‘admirable’, Swift writes as though making shoes and gloves for people of higher society is perfectly acceptable and a common practise. Once again the imagery of animals can be seen, this time on a materialistic level. Just as sheep are used for their wool, children’s skin could similarly be used to make shoes and gloves. This choice of vocabulary and use of imagery is used to entice the reader to look for a deeper understanding and to read on, in order to find Swift’s true intention.
Swift also develops another voice of the proposer to say exactly the opposite of what he feels. While the proposer suggests eating poor Irish children, this could not be further from the opinion of Swift. The reader must understand that Swift is operating separately to the narrator in a subtle manner. The reader is unsure whether his compassion for the beggars is earnest or ironic. With tongue in cheek, an argument is put forward illustrating the benefits of cannibalism in a most sensible manner. Images of cruelty are developed by the proposer as the reader is bombarded with disturbing imagery of Irish people and their children being treated like livestock raised for consumption. The narrator refers to the parents of the children as ‘savages’, ‘breeders’ and ‘dams’ as though they were animals or lesser mortals. He compares the children to roasting pigs and continues as if he were writing a cook book. Swift writes of how delicious these infants would be whether stewed, roasted, baked or boiled or served in a fricassee. Swift’s most potent attacks in his proposal were on a class of civilized people who often behaved like animals.
In ‘A Modest Proposal’, Swift manipulates the reader and forces them to determine his intent as well as re-evaluate their own. The literal interpretation of the text acts in contrast to the author’s true feelings. It is through these techniques used in ‘A Modest Proposal’, that Swift indicates his true feelings and opinions while also indicating that the proposal shouldn’t be taken at face value.
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