Modestly Proposing Controversy

During my slow days of summer vacation I found myself antsy for something to read, and I stumbled across the essay “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathon Swift while half-heartedly looking at The Shelf.

I began the essay and immediately felt deep sympathy for the poor population of eighteenth century Ireland and, in turn, respect for the author who expressed concern and desire for a solution to the common problem of poverty. I read and awaited his proposal that he claimed would put an end to the starving children and mothers begging on the street, to the lack of food for all classes of the population, and to the thieving that was being performed every day with no indication of a scruple on the thief’s behalf. I literally felt my jaw drop and my breath stop as I comprehended what exactly the author was suggesting as he stated 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.”

I apprehensively continued, and was soon comforted after realizing that his essay was satirical and he did not intend to seriously propose cannibalism as a source of food. The most indicative phrases of satire were those which spoke of the treatment of landlords to their tenants, which through later research, I learned was a comparison to the treatment and actions of the British government. His support of the subject also seemed undermined, and his willingness to contribute to the food supply seemed slight by his closing statement of “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.”

During the introduction of the essay, I thought of the state of our nation’s economy and the resulting increase of unemployed and homeless Americans, who have turned to begging on the streets or any other means by which to gain some money. The controversy of cannibalism also got me thinking about the big controversial concepts of the present generation. Abortion was even mentioned in the essay, which to this day, remains a constant struggle between the political parties of America, mostly based on morals, ethics, and foremost, religion.

Swift’s satirical and unexpected approach to solving the problem most likely captured the attention of the public better than a direct observation to the struggles of the city and the author’s actual ideas of help for the situation. Swift’s outright sarcasm in the essay even compelled me to wonder how many other pieces I have read with a similar style: saying one thing but in reality meaning something quite different.