When people get an idea of their point of view, it isn't easy to switch their view point. They are stuck up only believe what they want to believe. To every idea, there are two sides. A satirists job is to show them how stupid their idea can be by using sarcasm, irony, wit, folly, and many more satire tools. Sides of satire can be deplorable and disturbing, but many people need to hear it. In 1729, Ireland was poor. England was a country know knew about this but didn't care. Ireland was a country whose people when around begging for money or scraps that could mean life or death for them. Women and children would walking up in down streets, knocking on doors, running to commoners walking in the streets, begging for money. Once these children are of age, they are either off to follow in their parents footsteps or they go to find a job to help support their family with the pennies he makes. Mothers, other hand, couldn't work because of the infants that she has at her feet. Many of the children of beggars, even though the mothers worked so hard, became thieves and pirates. They wish to make another life. One made with money and adventure, especially after a life of begging for the tiniest of profits. Every class has seen these children at the feet of their parents and have seen the unfairness of the poor. But still, they wish to do nothing. In the article "A Modest Proposal," by Jonathan Swift, written in 1729, the idea of satire is first introduced.
When the wealthy see these poor children, they should have the urge to do something about it. Even giving them money, to which they would be greatly rewarded and still, many don't. Jonathan Swift explains that a child can be supported by the mother for a whole year via her breast milk. After that, she has an extra mouth to feed. Swift believed that these people should have help these families and given to charity to them. Women have children a lot, especially the women in the poor category. Fifty thousand woman experience a miscarriage or their children will die from an accident or disease within the first year. Since the poor have children a lot, which may not always be their plan, he strongly disagrees of abortion. Some of these children are the product of money making. A way for these women to make money is to go out in the middle of the night and sees what becomes of them. To aboard these young ones, it's injustice. "For we can neither employ them handicraft, or agriculture; we neither build houses nor cultivate land: They can very seldom pick up a likelihood by stealing, till they arrive at six years old..." (Swift 2). What Jonathan Swift means by this is, that they should hire the poor to build things since the rich don't want to get their hands dirty. For the years before the age of six, they could start to pick up thieving and piracy. "I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or girl before twelve years old is no salable commodity; 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..." (Swift 3). What Swift means by this is that you can't sell the poor children anything because the prices keep sky rocketing and they never have enough.
"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...." (Swift 3). This is the first description of satire that is explained in this article. At this time in history, there were in Americans in New England and they were thought of as barbarians. Everyone in Europe thought of them as killers, eating their children, lived against God, ex patricians, and a lot more. Because there are very many poor children, Jonathan swift states that they should eat their children, which is another piece of satire. As said before, satire can be disturbing which is showed here. "...One male will be sufficient to serve four females..." (Swift 3). Here, he is stating that the males children at the age of one can feed more that one person. When the parents can't pay their rent, they can be payed with other things and eventually all that is left if the infant child who has been fattened up. This child could be worth up to ten shillings and can make up to four dishes of nutritive meat. "Those who are more thrifty may flay the carcass; the skin of which artificially dressed will make admirable gloves for the ladies and summer boats for the fine gentlemen." (Swift 4). Yet again, this is all a tool of satire. Selling a child would get the family enough money for a whole year. Mothers who are married, would be kinder to their children. And the fathers wouldn't beat the mother for the fear of a miscarriage. With all that is happening to the poor Irish people, the British will not listen. They wish not to think of the disgust of the poor. An example of this the John Oliver Gun Control. He is trying to show America that we are stubborn and don't like to listen to facts when we have out view point. Both John Oliver and Jonathan Swift are serious about their logic towards the satire they are describing.
Even though John Oliver is a very satirist, he puts humor to his words, and Johnathan Swift does not. Jonathan Swift shows the world what really is happening in his time. Since then, satire has evolved and become funny. Jonathan Swift brought people to understand his point of view, but still wished to nothing about it. England wouldn't let go of any of their factories or any supplies. Because of their stubbornness, the British would have to eat raw, old flesh. "I am not violently bent upon my opinion as to reject any offer proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally innocent, cheap, easy, and effectual." (Swift 9). This, first of all, verbal irony. Saying that he will not reject any offer proposed to him, when found innocent. Still, this verbal irony is cheap and horrifying. There were hundreds of thousands starving people who were working for pennies. For these families, they wish for nothing to happen to their children. Ask the poor if they would like to be sold for money and then eaten. And this could only happen to the babies because the teenagers and too skinny to be sold and eaten. A child still below the age of 16 months can provide the families with enough money for a year if sold at a good price. "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." (Jonathan Swift 9). When this piece was written, he had already has his first and only child who was past the selling age, and his wife was past the age where she would birth another child for selling reasons. When he adds this selection in, he is stating that he can no longer sell his child for the prospects of money, but the rest of civilization may still have a chance to make some extra money.
The target shown in this article is aiming towards the rich and the Politicians in Ireland, Britain, and himself. All in all, wishing to change their view. Jonathan Swift used both sarcasm and verbal irony in this article as his tools of satire. He devoted much of his writing to the struggle for Ireland against the English hegemony. The newest thing isn't always the better. Using this article as an example, the idea of eating heir poor children, is a new one. But, people in Britain and Ireland who are reading this piece, are horrified by such an idea. They do not believe it is a better idea. Just imagine Britain's sipping their tea in the morning, eat some sort of breakfast and reading "The Modest Proposal". This of their faces when they read their first piece of satire and wondering if they take it as satire. Seeing that someone would publish such an article in their daily paper, you can imagine that there was a lot of complaints. Even though this article is very disturbing, it left an imprint for all satirists today.
"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...." (Swift 3). This is the first description of satire that is explained in this article. At this time in history, there were in Americans in New England and they were thought of as barbarians. Everyone in Europe thought of them as killers, eating their children, lived against God, ex patricians, and a lot more. Because there are very many poor children, Jonathan swift states that they should eat their children, which is another piece of satire. As said before, satire can be disturbing which is showed here. "...One male will be sufficient to serve four females..." (Swift 3). Here, he is stating that the males children at the age of one can feed more that one person. When the parents can't pay their rent, they can be payed with other things and eventually all that is left if the infant child who has been fattened up. This child could be worth up to ten shillings and can make up to four dishes of nutritive meat. "Those who are more thrifty may flay the carcass; the skin of which artificially dressed will make admirable gloves for the ladies and summer boats for the fine gentlemen." (Swift 4). Yet again, this is all a tool of satire. Selling a child would get the family enough money for a whole year. Mothers who are married, would be kinder to their children. And the fathers wouldn't beat the mother for the fear of a miscarriage. With all that is happening to the poor Irish people, the British will not listen. They wish not to think of the disgust of the poor. An example of this the John Oliver Gun Control. He is trying to show America that we are stubborn and don't like to listen to facts when we have out view point. Both John Oliver and Jonathan Swift are serious about their logic towards the satire they are describing.
Even though John Oliver is a very satirist, he puts humor to his words, and Johnathan Swift does not. Jonathan Swift shows the world what really is happening in his time. Since then, satire has evolved and become funny. Jonathan Swift brought people to understand his point of view, but still wished to nothing about it. England wouldn't let go of any of their factories or any supplies. Because of their stubbornness, the British would have to eat raw, old flesh. "I am not violently bent upon my opinion as to reject any offer proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally innocent, cheap, easy, and effectual." (Swift 9). This, first of all, verbal irony. Saying that he will not reject any offer proposed to him, when found innocent. Still, this verbal irony is cheap and horrifying. There were hundreds of thousands starving people who were working for pennies. For these families, they wish for nothing to happen to their children. Ask the poor if they would like to be sold for money and then eaten. And this could only happen to the babies because the teenagers and too skinny to be sold and eaten. A child still below the age of 16 months can provide the families with enough money for a year if sold at a good price. "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." (Jonathan Swift 9). When this piece was written, he had already has his first and only child who was past the selling age, and his wife was past the age where she would birth another child for selling reasons. When he adds this selection in, he is stating that he can no longer sell his child for the prospects of money, but the rest of civilization may still have a chance to make some extra money.
The target shown in this article is aiming towards the rich and the Politicians in Ireland, Britain, and himself. All in all, wishing to change their view. Jonathan Swift used both sarcasm and verbal irony in this article as his tools of satire. He devoted much of his writing to the struggle for Ireland against the English hegemony. The newest thing isn't always the better. Using this article as an example, the idea of eating heir poor children, is a new one. But, people in Britain and Ireland who are reading this piece, are horrified by such an idea. They do not believe it is a better idea. Just imagine Britain's sipping their tea in the morning, eat some sort of breakfast and reading "The Modest Proposal". This of their faces when they read their first piece of satire and wondering if they take it as satire. Seeing that someone would publish such an article in their daily paper, you can imagine that there was a lot of complaints. Even though this article is very disturbing, it left an imprint for all satirists today.
