Characteristics of Neoclassicism in A Modest Proposal
Characteristics of Neoclassicism in A Modest Proposal
The idea that is suggested in Jonathan Swift's essay, A Modest Proposal, is hardly a modest idea at all. In his own way, Swift used many Neoclassicism elements to offer a solution to the problems in Ireland's society. Swift proposed that children should be fattened up and sold for food. With his use of reason as a way to solve society's problems, Swift also combined satire and the use of the public to let his ideas be known through writings in Neoclassicism style.
All together, Swift's idea is solely based on reason, an element of Neoclassicism. He put all emotion aside when manifesting the proposal of devouring children for money. He says,
"...and it is exactly at one year old that I propose to provide for them in such a manner, as, instead of being a charge upon their parents or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing, of many thousands" (Swift 282).
With this statement, Swift used the fact that the parents of these children are too poor to raise them. So, in order to keep them from being a burden, they should make them useful to society, instead. Swift only considered what makes sense, and not how the actions would effect anyone emotionally. He used only reason and no emotion throughout the essay. Swift wrote,
"For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the number of papists; with whom we are yearly overrun, being the principal breeders of the nation as well as our ...
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With this statement, Swift used the fact that the parents of these children are too poor to raise them. So, in order to keep them from being a burden, they should make them useful to society, instead. Swift only considered what makes sense, and not how the actions would effect anyone emotionally. He used only reason and no emotion throughout the essay. Swift wrote,
"For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the number of papists; with whom we are yearly overrun, being the principal breeders of the nation as well as our most dangerous enemies..." (Swift 285).
In other words, he said that killing the children would be helpful, because it would eliminate the poor little by little, since they are the primary breeders anyway. Sure, this makes sense if you look at it that way. But, anyone with a human mind could not possibly consider such a thing unless they truly based their thoughts on reason alone. Although Swift used reason to try and support his idea, he really had another idea in mind. He portrayed this with his use of another element of Neoclassicism; satire.
With the purpose of venting his thoughts about the higher class people in Ireland and England, Swift included many satirical statements that made his proposal look as though it was something that really happened. He ridiculed England because Ireland and England are in constant disagreement. Swift showed this in one way by saying,
"I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child, well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled" (Swift 283).
Though it seems as if he was referring to the proposal, this reference was to the fact that England is always "devouring" his country in one way or another. The most obvious satirical statement in Swift's essay, in my opinion, mocks the fact that landlords are one cause of Ireland's detriment state. "I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children" (Swift 284). He targeted the landlords again when he says, "...the poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by law may be made liable to distress, and help to pay their landlord's rent" (Swift 285). Swift was saying that because the landlords have made the poor people even poorer by being greedy about rent, the poor people might be able to use the children as a way to pay; inferring again that landlords might as well have the children because they have already "devoured" the parents. The clever use of satire in this essay contributes to its classification as a form of Neoclassicism writing, but not alone. This essay was literature that Swift intended for the public, and this is another reason for its classification.
Swift wrote A Modest Proposal with the intention of getting a public response. "I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration, that of the hundred and twenty thousand children already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only one-fourth part to be males" (Swift 283). The essay is also shown to be for the public when Swift says, "I can think of no one objection that will possibly be raised against this proposal..." (Swift 286).
With a not-so-modest suggestion, Swift expressed his views of England by using satire, and a solution to the problems that England has caused by using reason without emotion. He put this out for the public's opinion and the reaction was not quite what he had anticipated; but with these three elements, he created a piece of literature that is classified as Neoclassicism writing.
