A Modest Proposal Jonathan Swift

Kevin Zhang

Swift went to Ireland after the victory of the Whigs

Wanted to help the Irish with his pamphleteering skills

Ireland was dependent on England, while being at the same time very weak

Irish Parliament completely ignored Swifts proposals to improve land, encourage industry, etc.

Expresses his contempt for the English tyranny and the Irish incapability to go against it

Blames everybody in his sarcastic and immoral reasons for his argument

Greatly shocks the reader and stimulates thinking about politics and morality

Extensively makes use of cold-blooded rationality

Strives to make children sound, useful members of the commonwealth (2)

Intends to expand his proposal to families who are unable to support their children

Argues that children are not fit for work, therefore, should be used as commodity to present to the
aristocracy

As a further advantage, its meat is available throughout the year

As calculated, one child will yield a net profit of 8s

Uses statistics and calculations to present a convincing argument, which also serve as another
way of mockery

Although his data are strongly in the favour of his proposal, the idea seems wrong on the most
fundamental level; however, he is indifferent about it:
o

I can think of no one objection that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it
should be urged that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the
kingdom (29)

...as a little bordering upon cruelty; which, I confess, has always been with me the
strongest objection against any project (17)

His references to advisers are also equally as far-fetched and absurd as his argument, perhaps
mocking the readers intelligence

Swift creates a parallel between the consummation of humans and the consummation of a nation
Ireland, by the aristocracy:
o

although perhaps I could name a country, which would be glad to eat up our whole
nation without it. (31)

He also suggests a variety of uses for the children:

o

As a delicacy for aristocrats

To help poor tenants pay off rent

Strengthen the economy

Strengthen bonds between married couples

Improve quality and custom of taverns

Use skin as clothing

Will also reduce the number of Papists, or Catholics, who make up most of the impoverished
population

Accuses Catholics of being the enemies of the nation

Swifts proposal tries to facilitate change from within the Irish community, without help or
interference from the English: it is entirely self-sufficient

Despite this, Swift seems to suggest that this gruesome solution could only be somewhat viable in
Ireland, since the state is so upside-down at this point

Ultimately, Swift hoped to shock the Irish out of their dormant state, and denounce England
enough for change to occur