INTRODUCTION TO A NOT-SO-MODEST PROPOSAL

Jonathan Swift's satirical essay "A Modest Proposal" on the surface follows the classical elements of persuasive writing that we use today. His essay is often modeled in editorials and columns today. However, with careful attention to his audience and a few clever tricks, Swift uses these classical elements to his own purpose, and the reader is caught in a persuasive trap. Let's see how he accomplishes this.

The last half of the eighteenth century has been called the Neoclassical Age, a time when writers and leaders looked to the Roman and Greek classics for their ideals in writing and in common life. These classical writings called for self-control and a peaceful life surrounded by selected friends. However, Swift saw his country as a sad contrast to this classic ideal. He saw moral emptiness, political corruption, and gross abuse of power by the wealthy landowners. In this essay, he points out these abuses, but he knows that his readers would quickly reject any overt finger-pointing, so he gradually pulls them into his essay - until they are caught in his trap.

Swift's satirical piece makes reference to the attempts of the English to resolve Irish slums, yet with the force of English prejudice against the Irish holding them back.. While maintaining a serious and sincere tone throughout the text, Swift's outlandish proposal makes for dark humor. The reader must ask himself how anyone could propose such a solution.

Writing during a time when objectivity and self-control were revered, Swift writes his essay using the rhetoric of the formal proposal. This classicalform is a forerunner to today's format for effective essay or editorial; and, in fact, his form is often modeled for modern "not-so-modest" proposals. In Swift's case, the ancient, classical form helps to disguise radical new ideas.

The basis of a persuasive proposal are as follows:

1. A clearly-defined problem.
2. A proposed solution – a clear thesis
3. Convincing argument supported by facts, examples, and opinions of recognized authorities
4. Recognition of opposing viewpoints (concessions)-anticipating objections and allaying fears of the opposition
5. Comparison of proposed solution to alternatives
6. A controlled tone – rational, specific, avoiding exaggerations, never quarrelsome

"A Modest Proposal"

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

It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for an alms. These mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants: who as they grow up either turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes.

["Melancholy": The narrator shifts sympathy away from the poor mother and children to the inconvenience of the passer-by to look on to such a thing. This is important is setting up the attitude required by the reader to hear Swifts' "modest proposal" that he will later present. In spite of the detachment and objectivity of the narrator, note the description of the "beggars … all in rags" that causes the reader to see this poverty as sad and shocking. Even though he uses "melancholy" to describe the feelings of those who must watch this poverty, the vivid details present another point of view. Thus the overt point of view is set up by controlled and formal rhetoric; the covert point of view is found in the description of the poverty.]

I think it is agreed by all parties that this prodigious number of children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their mothers, and frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the kingdom a very great additional grievance; and, therefore, whoever could find out a fair, cheap, and easy method of making these children sound, useful members of the commonwealth, would deserve so well of the public as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation. But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the children of professed beggars; it is of a much greater extent, and shall take in the whole number of infants at a certain age who are born of parents in effect as little able to support them as those who demand our charity in the streets. As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of other projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in the computation. It is true, a child just dropped from its dam may be supported by her milk for a solar year, with little other nourishment; at most not above the value of 2s., which the mother may certainly get, or the value in scraps, by her lawful occupation of begging; 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.

There is likewise 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 expense than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhuman breast.

["Prevent": The narrator addresses the alternatives. He plays upon the morals of his reader in a clever way to make his reader more open to what he is yet to say.]

[What examples of irony can you find in the paragraph above?]

The number of souls in this kingdom being usually reckoned one million and a half, of these I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand couple whose wives are breeders; from which number I subtract thirty thousand couples who are able to maintain their own children, although I apprehend there cannot be so many, under the present distresses of the kingdom; but this being granted, there will remain an hundred and seventy thousand breeders. I again subtract fifty thousand for those women who miscarry, or whose children die by accident or disease within the year. There only remains one hundred and twenty thousand children of poor parents annually born. The question therefore is, how this number shall be reared and provided for, which, as I have already said, under the present situation of affairs, is utterly impossible by all the methods hitherto proposed. For we can neither employ them in handicraft or agriculture; we neither build houses (I mean in the country) nor cultivate land: they can very seldom pick up a livelihood by stealing, till they arrive at six years old, except where they are of towardly parts, although I confess they learn the rudiments much earlier, during which time, they can however be properly looked upon only as probationers, as I have been informed by a principal gentleman in the county of Cavan, who protested to me that he never knew above one or two instances under the age of six, even in a part of the kingdom so renowned for the quickest proficiency in that art.

["One Million and a half": The narrator starts to mention the population of Ireland by numbers of people that fit certain categories. He is taking a mathematical approach to the problem and by doing so is starting to treat people as a quantity, a number. The narrator acts as if the people he is talking about have no personality or character. He starts to treat them like livestock. He is talking about mothers and primarily children.]

["Stealing": The narrator suggests that stealing will become the only alternate form of income for these poor children.]

I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or a girl before twelve years old is no salable commodity; and even when they come to this age they will not yield above three pounds, or three pounds and half-a-crown at most on the exchange; which cannot turn to account either to the parents or kingdom, the charge of nutriment and rags having been at least four times that value. I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection. 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; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.

["Food": The narrator is suggesting cannibalism! Yet the formal rhetoric and common sense and working for the common good that are revered by the wealthy landowners of his time make his proposal actually sound logical.]

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; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle or swine; and my reason is, that these children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore one male will be sufficient to serve four females. That the remaining hundred thousand may, at a year old, be offered in the sale to the persons of quality and fortune through the kingdom; always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them plump and fat for a good table.

["Breed": The narrator proposes that the children of the poor be treated as if they were swine by breeding them with the intentions of consumption. He detaches all emotion from his stance by supporting this proposal with examples of how animals are bred, and proposing that the public breed children in a similar manner. He has indicated that the mother is merely a part of the division of labor and depicts the breeders of the children as savages with no emotion or bond to their children. This division of labor includes the breeding of the children, the conception and nursing of the children to proper standards, and the selling of the children to an awaiting market of the wealthy for consumption. If the topic had approached the over population of sheep or swine and not underprivledged children, would this proposal seem acceptable?]

A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter. I have reckoned upon a medium that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, increaseth to 28 pounds. 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.

["Devoured": The narrator suggests here a way for the poor to pay their rent, and that is by breeding and selling their year-old infants to the landlord in order to gain enough money to pay rent. The narrator extends his argument through a metaphoric extension: the notion that the English (rich landlords) have devoured the poor (Irish) parents, gnawing away at them with each payment due.]

Infant's flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March, and a little before and after; for we are told by a grave author, an eminent French physician, that fish being a prolific diet, there are more children born in Roman Catholic countries about nine months after Lent than at any other season; therefore, reckoning a year after Lent, the markets will be more glutted than usual, because the number of popish infants is at least three to one in this kingdom: and therefore it will have one other collateral advantage, by lessening the number of papists among us. I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar's child (in which list I reckon all cottagers, laborers, and four-fifths of the farmers) to be about two shillings per annum, rags included; and I believe no gentleman would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child, which, as I have said, will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat, when he hath only some particular friend or his own family to dine with him. Thus the squire will learn to be a good landlord, and grow popular among his tenants; the mother will have eight shillings net profit, and be fit for work till she produces another child.

[Note the number of times the narrator uses carefully calculated facts and statistics. He uses "an eminent French physician" for reliable information and plays upon religious prejuidice with phrases such as "popish infants" and "papists." Do these make his proposal more acceptable?]

Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flay the carcass; the skin of which artificially dressed will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen. As to our city of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpose in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will not be wanting; although I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs. A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I highly esteem, was lately pleased in discoursing on this matter to offer a refinement upon my scheme. He said that many gentlemen of this kingdom, having of late destroyed their deer, he conceived that the want of venison might be well supplied by the bodies of young lads and maidens, not exceeding fourteen years of age nor under twelve; so great a number of both sexes in every country being now ready to starve for want of work and service; and these to be disposed of by their parents, if alive, or otherwise by their nearest relations. But with due deference to so excellent a friend and so deserving a patriot, I cannot be altogether in his sentiments; for as to the males, my American acquaintance assured me, from frequent experience, that their flesh was generally tough and lean, like that of our schoolboys by continual exercise, and their taste disagreeable; and to fatten them would not answer the charge.

["American": Is this an attempt at humor? The narrator suggests that a British mind would never have come up with such an absurd "modest proposal" but that he had to get it from an American. Is he suggesting that America is an amoral country, one that exploits innocence for gain? What was known of American civility in 1729? Does this help his argument?]

Then as to the females, it would, I think, with humble submission be a loss to the public, because they soon would become breeders themselves; and besides, it is not improbable that some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice (although indeed very unjustly), as a little bordering upon cruelty; which, I confess, hath always been with me the strongest objection against any project, however so well intended. But in order to justify my friend, he confessed that this expedient was put into his head by the famous Psalmanazar, a native of the island Formosa, who came from thence to London above twenty years ago, and in conversation told my friend, that in his country when any young person happened to be put to death, the executioner sold the carcass to persons of quality as a prime dainty; and that in his time the body of a plump girl of fifteen, who was crucified for an attempt to poison the emperor, was sold to his imperial majesty's prime minister of state, and other great mandarins of the court, in joints from the gibbet, at four hundred crowns. Neither indeed can I deny, that if the same use were made of several plump young girls in this town, who without one single groat to their fortunes cannot stir abroad without a chair, and appear at playhouse and assemblies in foreign fineries which they never will pay for, the kingdom would not be the worse. Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed, and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken to ease the nation of so grievous an encumbrance. But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known that they are every day dying and rotting by cold and famine, and filth and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. And as to the young laborers, they are now in as hopeful a condition; they cannot get work, and consequently pine away for want of nourishment, to a degree that if at any time they are accidentally hired to common labor, they have not strength to perform it; and thus the country and themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come. I have too long digressed, and therefore shall return to my subject. I think the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious and many, as well as of the highest importance.

["Digressed": A digression before going immediately into the proof of the argument was considered in good classical form. This element is usually omitted in today's editorials and persuasive essays.]

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; and who stay at home on purpose with a design to deliver the kingdom to the Pretender, hoping to take their advantage by the absence of so many good protestants, who have chosen rather to leave their country than stay at home and pay tithes against their conscience to an episcopal curate. Secondly, 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, their corn and cattle being already seized, and money a thing unknown. Thirdly, Whereas the maintenance of an hundred thousand children, from two years old and upward, cannot be computed at less than ten shillings a-piece per annum, the nation's stock will be thereby increased fifty thousand pounds per annum, beside the profit of a new dish introduced to the tables of all gentlemen of fortune in the kingdom who have any refinement in taste. And the money will circulate among ourselves, the goods being entirely of our own growth and manufacture. Fourthly, The constant breeders, beside the gain of eight shillings sterling per annum by the sale of their children, will be rid of the charge of maintaining them after the first year. Fifthly, This food would likewise bring great custom to taverns; where the vintners will certainly be so prudent as to procure the best receipts for dressing it to perfection, and consequently have their houses frequented by all the fine gentlemen, who justly value themselves upon their knowledge in good eating: and a skillful cook, who understands how to oblige his guests, will contrive to make it as expensive as they please. Sixthly, This would be a great inducement to marriage, which all wise nations have either encouraged by rewards or enforced by laws and penalties. It would increase the care and tenderness of mothers toward their children, when they were sure of a settlement for life to the poor babes, provided in some sort by the public, to their annual profit instead of expense. We should see an honest emulation among the married women, which of them could bring the fattest child to the market. Men would become as fond of their wives during the time of their pregnancy as they are now of their mares in foal, their cows in calf, their sows when they are ready to farrow; nor offer to beat or kick them (as is too frequent a practice) for fear of a miscarriage.

["Sixthly": Note the logical, common sense approach he has taken to the development of his proof.]

Many other advantages might be enumerated. For instance, the addition of some thousand carcasses in our exportation of barreled beef, the propagation of swine's flesh, and improvement in the art of making good bacon, so much wanted among us by the great destruction of pigs, too frequent at our tables; which are no way comparable in taste or magnificence to a well-grown, fat, yearling child, which roasted whole will make a considerable figure at a lord mayor's feast or any other public entertainment. But this and many others I omit, being studious of brevity. Supposing that one thousand families in this city would be constant customers for infants flesh, besides others who might have it at merry meetings, particularly weddings and christenings; I compute that Dublin would take off annually about twenty thousand carcasses, and the rest of the kingdom (where probably they will be sold somewhat cheaper) the remaining eighty thousand. 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. I desire the reader will observe, that I calculate my remedy for this one individual Kingdom of Ireland, and for no other that ever was, is, or, I think, ever can be upon earth. Therefore, let no man talk to me of other expedients: Of taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound: Of using neither clothes, manufacture: Of utterly rejecting the materials and instruments that promote foreign luxury: Of curing the expensiveness of pride, vanity, idleness, and gaming in our women: Of introducing a vein of parsimony, prudence, and temperance: Of learning to love our country, wherein we differ even from Laplanders, and the inhabitants of Topinamboo: of quitting our animosities and factions, nor act any longer like the Jews, who were murdering one another at the moment their city was taken: Of being a little cautious not to sell our country and consciences for nothing: Of teaching landlords to have at least one degree of mercy towards their tenants. Lastly, of putting a spirit of honesty, industry, and skill into our shopkeepers, who if a resolution could now be taken to buy only our native goods, would immediately unite to cheat and exact upon us in the price, the measure and the goodness, nor could ever yet be brought to make one fair proposal of just dealing, though often and earnestly invited to it. Therefore, I repeat, let no man talk to me of these and the like expedients, till he hath at least a glimpse of hope that there will ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them in practice. But as to myself, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal, which, as it is wholly new, so it hath something solid and real, of no expense and little trouble, full in our own power, and whereby we can incur no danger in disobliging England. For this king of commodity will not bear exportation, the flesh being of too tender a consistence to admit a long continuance in salt, although perhaps I could name a country which would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it. 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. But before something of that kind shall be advanced in contradiction to my scheme, and offering a better, I desire the author or authors will be pleased maturely to consider two points. First, as things now stand, how they will be able to find food and raiment for an hundred thousand useless mouths and backs. And secondly, there being a round million of creatures in human figure throughout this kingdom, whose whole subsistence put into a common stock would leave them in debt two millions of pounds sterling, adding those who are beggars by profession to the bulk of farmers, cottagers, and laborers, with their wives and children who are beggars in effect: I desire those politicians who dislike my overture, and may perhaps be so bold as to attempt an answer, that they will first ask the parents of these mortals, whether they would not at this day think it a great happiness to have been sold for food, at a year old in the manner I prescribe, and thereby have avoided such a perpetual scene of misfortunes as they have since gone through by the oppression of landlords, the impossibility of paying rent without money or trade, the want of common sustenance, with neither house nor clothes to cover them from the inclemencies of the weather, and the most inevitable prospect of entailing the like or greater miseries upon their breed for ever. I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good of my country, by advancing our trade, providing for infants, relieving the poor, and giving some pleasure to the rich. I have no children by which I can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past child-bearing. (1729) THE END

1. In the beginning sentence, what is the antecedent of the pronoun "it"? Why does Swift begin his essay in this way?

2. What is the overt point of view? How do we know? What is the writer's real point of view? How do we know?

3. Find examples of each of the elements of form of the classical proposal:

a) A clearly-defined problem.
b) A proposed solution - a clear thesis
c) A convincing argument supported by facts, examples, and opinions of recognized authorities
d) Recognition of opposing viewpoints (concessions)-anticipating objections and allaying fears of the opposition
e) Comparison of proposed solution to alternatives
f) A self-controlled tone - rational, specific, avoiding exaggerations, never quarrelsome

4. Swift uses a technique called "diminution." This is the substitution of a milder word for the real one. He does this gradually in this essay; for example, parents become beggars and then become breeders. Can you find some other examples? One example from today's political talk is the use of "collateral damage" for human casualties in war. Can you think of some other examples? What is the purpose of this device?

5. A device closely related to diminution is the abundant use of statistics in the essay. This is often used in today's editorials and essays. Its use can overwhelm the reader and cause the reader to feel detached from the problem. What is a more effective way to present the problem to the reader? How could Swift have done this? Considering his audience, why do you think he chooses the approach he does? What would have been the effect of another approach?

6. What topics can you think of for some modern "modest" proposals? Check your local newspapers for examples.

References for this unit

Eds. L. Damrosch; L. Dean; W. Keach; and G. Levin. "Age of Pope." In Adventures in English Literature: Heritage Edition. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1980.

This introduction to the historical period gives the basic characteristics of the literature of that period.

Axelrod, R. & C. Cooper. "Proposal." In Reading Critically, Writing Well: A Reader and Guide. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1987.

This chapter has an excellent chapter on the characteristics and process of proposal writing.

Smith, C.K. "Toward a Participatory Rhetoric: Teaching Swift's 'Modest Proposal.'" College English, Nov. 1968, pp. 135-143.

This article offers an excellent discussion of the persuasive techniques of Swift's "Modest Proposal."