HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOURS COOKED?

How would you like yours, rare, medium or well done? After reading Jonathan Swift’s prose work, “A Modest Proposal” (Swift pg. 185), I find this is a question that would require an answer, if Swift had not the intentions of writing a political satire. When I first read this story; I am sure my first impression was the same as many people, who first read it in 1729 and since then. I was totally repulsed at the thought eating another human being, no matter how juicy, tasty and was well prepared. But, that was not Swift’s intent; he wanted to get the attention of his fellow countrymen because he believes Ireland was facing a grave problem of poverty.

Swift’s total concern was for his country, Ireland and her people. He could see what most people chose to ignore. Everywhere people traveled it was “……crowded with beggars of the female-sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for an alms” (185). Most of these women were unmarried and could not work because they spent their days begging for food in order to feed their children. This same lifestyle would be bestowed upon these children, a vicious cycle that needed to be broken. Swift knew the cycle had to be broken and he also knew he had to convince his countrymen of the same.

Swift set forth to shock the readers of his day. He ran through all numbers of people, like an accountant of today would figure a profit margin, to explain how many would be having children; how many children would be born and the cost to feed and clothe them through the years. Then he explains his proposal and the benefits for all, including the country of Ireland.

Swift explains his idea no matter how repulsing; he was focusing on and attempting to solve the problem while other chose to turn a blind eye. Yet he did try to encourage others to come forth with their ideas. “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” (191). Of Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” all he wanted was to get the blinders off and force his countrymen to face the problem of an unbroken cycle of poverty among the people of Ireland.