Soup's On
After reading "A Modest Proposal" I had to post this pic. The baby looks like he/she might hit you with the spoon if you got too close to the pot.Jonathan Swift sure knew how to get his audience's attention with this "bitingly" ironic essay. The surprises in this work shocks the reader and then causes them to think critically about the political situation at hand. Swift vents his mounting aggravation with Ireland's politicians, the hypocrisy of the wealthy, the tyranny of the English, and the squalor and degradation in which he sees so many Irish people living.
It is interesting to note that Swift doesn't lay all the blame at the feet of the English as he expresses his disgust at the Irish people's inability to band together and take up their own cause. Even though Swift has compassion for the plight of the Irish, he critiques their incompetence in dealing with their own problems.
Swift's essay pulls the reader in all directions. First you are sympathic for the beggars in Ireland and then you are disgusted by the proposal itself. Throw in a few distasteful phrases by Swift such as the way he describes a newborn child as "just drooped from its Dam" and identifies women as "Breeders," and the reader feels contempt towards Swift. Then when everything is presented as an economic argument for cannabalism you wonder what is coming next.
I like that the speaker of the proposal says he got the idea from an American - now how appropriate is that for today's reader that an American could think of a way to turn babies into a marketable product. The speaker also seems to have tasted flesh before as when it is suggested teens be used in the proposal he disagrees: "their Flesh was generally tough and lean...and their Taste disagreeable." Now I know a few teens that have poor taste in music and clothing and perhaps that is the "taste" the speaker is referring to in the quote. Regardless, Swift was very clever as the irony of his piece works so well as he is under the assumption that his audience, regardless of their national or religious affiliations or their socioeconomic status, will all agree that eating children is morally reprehensible.
Even though we know this is a satirical pamphlet, one has to wonder about the person who has an imagination to come up with such a bizarre proposal. Methinks Mr. Swift may have enjoyed a drop or two of Irish whiskey while writing some the bizarre suggestions in his pamphlet.
Speaking of bizarre, here's a suggestion for a Halloween costume - any takers?
posted by Lucy | 4:59 PM
3 Comments:
Funny how when I reached the section about teenagers and how they would not benefit the market, I was not as offended. I would assume this would have to be attributed to the assumption of innocence, when speaking of babies. They are young, fresh and untainted. Teenagers on the other hand are corrupted. This could be a toxin that Swift felt added to the undelightful taste of their generation.
I still think he has issues, being able to built such an idea, especially from a man who has children of his own. Did he not consider what it would have been like to have sent his own children to the butcher? Oh wait! He did... his comment was that they were now too old to be of use...
Surely he could have found another way to grab the attention of his prospective audience.
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^^^^ That's a line and in my opinion Swift crossed it. O! He crossed it good!
Sick man... sick sick sick.
Oh, the picture is cute though... god love little tiny babies :)
Actually, another reason why the piece may have bothered me, is because I think I am currently struggling with baby fever but... hey... who knows
Good lord, Lucy, where do you find your pictures!??
Your point about Swift also criticizing the Irish is well taken; there are a number of points where he succumbs to negative stereotypes of the Irish.
Re. the possibility of whiskey: well, he was an odd bird.
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