Shocking the Sensibilities in A Modest Proposal

Two Works Cited Three years after Gulliver's Travels was published, Jonathan Swift wrote "A
Modest Proposal," a work grounded in thoughtful satire. Swift describes the destitution that
characterized the life of Ireland's poor in the 18th century then renders a brazenly inhumane
solution to their problems. He shocks the sensibilities of the readers then leads them to consider
the inhumanity of the destitution in the first place.

Although he was born in Ireland, Swift considered himself an Englishman first, and the English
were his intended audience. Swift used the good reputation afforded him by previous works to
expose an otherwise indifferent English public to the circumstances of Irish misery.
Unfortunately, many of the English were so predisposed to hatred of the Irish that they would
disregard the point of Swift's essay and might go so far as to endorse Swift's proposal. For the
people of Ireland, "A Modest Proposal" built upon Swift's earlier Drapier's Letters and made
Swift a national hero (Bookshelf).

"A Modest Proposal" begins with a description of the state of 18th century Irish life. Ireland was
a place where children too often became beggars or thieves to sustain themselves or their
families, women had abortions because they could not afford to raise children, few jobs were
available to the workforce, and landlords abused poor tenants. As miserable as the picture Swift
painted of Irish life was, the brushstrokes of history were even harsher. Actions of the English in
the previous century had thrust the Irish people into a state of diaspora; tens of thousands had
been killed, thousands had been enslaved, and the majority were forcibly relocated to other parts
of Ireland. By the 18th century, Irish Catholics were denied suffrage, education, and the
opportunity to serve in the military.

After the introduction to the problem, Swift describes his solution, with the first paragraphs
indicative of the faux panacea he crafts it to be. He proposes that the children of Ireland's poor
should be utilized as a food supply and a source of leather products. The body of the essay is
devoted to an unflinchingly positive portrayal of this proposal and its benefits. Swift also
addresses problems that would arise if his proposal was enacted. He acknowledges that it would
slow population growth in Ireland, then disregards that argument: "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. This I freely own, and it was
indeed one principal design in offering it to the world" (116).

A good satirist often disguises the key point of an essay and Swift is no exception. After
outlining aspects of his proposal, he makes an effective appeal to reason: "After all, I am not so
violently bent upon my own opinion as to reject any offer proposed by wise men, which shall be
found equally innocent, cheap, easy, and effectual" (116). Using the tone of high-minded satire
to the very end, Swift concludes with a short paragraph recusing himself from personal gain were
his proposal to be enacted.

It might be said that Swift comes across as too convincing, making some readers so disgusted by
the details of his proposal that they fail to recognize his point. Swift also infuses parts of the
essay with disdain toward Catholics, diminishing an otherwise conscientious work. However,
Swift's attacks on Catholics were likely done to appeal to his English audience and did not reflect
personal beliefs, for he once wrote, "We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not
enough to make us love one another."

A person of the 20th century might read "A Modest Proposal" and regard it as a historical
footnote, not something that pertains to the present. Yet we need only look to poor children
huddled on the streets of Brazil, or hear accounts of people who have resorted to using human
flesh as sustenance to endure the North Korean famine, to realize that the misery of the world's
poor has yet to be tempered by the progress of a modern age. "A Modest Proposal" could have
been written yesterday; it might well be written tomorrow.

Works Cited

Swift, Jonathan. "A Modest Proposal: For Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland
from Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the
Public." 1729. Rpt. in Current Issues and Enduring Questions. Ed. Sylvan Barnet and Hugo
Bedau. Boston, MA: St. Martin's 1996. 111-117.

"Johathan Swift." Bookshelf 1996-1997 Edition 1996.

CD-ROM. Redmond, WA: Microsoft, 1996.