The poem A Modest Proposal” suggests that the author is sick or unstable for proposing the selling of one-year-old children to be cooked and eaten by the rich. However, a more in-depth analysis of the writer’s tone and style reveals a specific purpose behind this outrageous proposal. In effect, it seems that Swift’s intent is to address some very hot issues faced by the citizens of his “kingdom” at the time, namely poverty and overpopulation. It is obvious from the content of the essay that the increasing number of poor children and unemployed parents were of great concern to most and “a very great additional grievance” to the kingdom.
It is reasonable to assume that the writer has tried in the past to propose socially acceptable solutions that have fallen on deaf ears. This is evidenced by the following lines: As for myself, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length despairing of success…” The author has turned to satire in an effort to get the attention of those who may think they have heard it all and have become indifferent to regular or acceptable solutions. Most writers use satire to ridicule and attack the negative or false values of society.
This author’s style seems even a bit more caustic. He makes what could arguably be viewed as the most objectionable, if not disgusting proposal. He proceeds to dehumanize children by dwelling on the details of cooking them, the numbers of servings one can get out of one child, and even suggests using their skin as gloves and boots. This makes the reader feel as uncomfortable as humanly possible, only to proceed in attacking his prime target in the most sarcastic way: I grant this food will be…”
It is very proper for landlords, who have already devoured most of the parents, to seem to have the best title to the children. As a sub-social issue, Swift also touches on abortion, which remains one of the most controversial issues in America. Even though the essay predates the Roe versus Wade decision issued by the United States Supreme Court in January 1973, where abortion became legal in America, it seems that abortion was already a debated issue in 1729. The author insinuates that his proposal would also take care of that problem, as he writes, There is likely another great advantage in my scheme, that it will prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children, alas! Too frequent among us, sacrificing the poor innocent babes, I doubt more to avoid the expenses than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhuman breast.” It is readily apparent that Swift is being extremely sarcastic by offering the extreme solution of killing and cooking a living infant as a solution to avoid the killing of a fetus, which many, even in today’s debates, consider to be nothing but a fetus, not a potential infant, since, arguably, life does not begin until birth.
One of Jonathan Swift’s purposes in writing this essay seems to be a desire to bring attention to the social plagues of his society. The most prevalent of these plagues is the misfortune of the underdog, exacerbated by the oppression of landlords, the impossibility of paying rent without money or trade, and the lack of common sustenance. Swift hopes to draw the attention of those who have the power to make a change but instead prefer to hypocritically commiserate with the poor while secretly taking advantage of them.
By using satire or sarcasm, he manages to keep the readers’ interest long enough to impress upon them the urgency of the problem, while pointing out the general flaws and weaknesses in the thinking of the general public and innocently forcing them out of their complacency. He seems to have noticed that for any proposed solution to pique anybody’s interest, it has to be innocent, cheap, easy, and effectual.” Swift also had no qualms in making it clear that he knows the growing number of the population, especially the poor, is a real concern, even though no one would openly admit it. Again, he adeptly, in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way, states, “I can think of no objection that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged that the number of…”
