JBP 5

Hannah Miller
Mrs. Gladden
“5.03” A Modest Proposal
1. Swift wrote "A Modest Proposal" under a pseudonym, so who is the speaker here?
Answer: The speaker is a narrator.
2. Discuss the tone of the piece. Pull examples from the text to support your discussion.
Answer: The tone of the story would be depressing and gory. It talks about how the town is so poor how they feed off of children for support. Example: Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flea the carcass; the skin of which, artificially dressed, will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen. This text refers the children as food as well as the living necessity for society.
3. As you know, effective argumentation appeals to logic (logos), ethics (ethos) and emotions (pathos). Please discuss how Swift uses all three appeals and how these tools impact his purpose.
Answer:
Logos: statement based on logic reasoning OR documents distributed to people. Example be the “Coca Cola”or “Nike”
Logos in the story: [8] I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be lyable (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 Fricasie, or Ragoust. 12I 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 Sale to the persons of Quality, 13 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. 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. Words highlighted I had to look up.
Ethos: Feelings and reputation. ( Because he keeps talking about himself) Stuff he wants to do, things he doesn’t like and changes that should be made. It is all his opinions. Statements that HE the character wants to talk about.

Ethos in the story: 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, 4 I have always found them grossly mistaken in their computation. It is true a Child, just dropt from it's Dam, 5 may be supported by her Milk, for a Solar year with little other Nourishment, at most not above the Value of two Shillings, 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, 6 or wanting 7 Food and Raiment for the rest of their Lives, they shall, on the Contrary, contribute to the Feeding and partly to the Cloathing of many Thousands.
Pathos: Statement based on emotion. How he feels and he doesn’t like abortion she he wants to prevent it.
Pathos in the story: 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, 8 more to avoid the Expence, than the Shame, which would move Tears and Pity in the most Savage and inhuman breast.
4. Explain the irony in Swift’s title, "A Modest Proposal."
Answer: Swift uses verbal irony which is everything he says he means the EXACT OPPOSITE of. In the society we live today that would be known as sarcasm. Examples: to point out that the Irish should not be treated like animals, Swift compares them to animals and "I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs.He did not really do that. He was just using comparison. I think he was using this on the people as a scare tactic so that they would use it as motivation to get up and get out of their own problems.
5. Where does this essay fit on the continuum (Horatian to Juvenalian)? Explain/support your position.
It is Juvenalian because it is a parody of a more sarcastic and humorous standpoint.
6. Why is "A Modest Proposal" an effective satire? What techniques does Swift use effectively? Support your answers with examples from the text.
Answer: He uses a parody, which is where you make fun of something. If you go on youtube you will see many parodies. This has a humorous and sarcastic feel to it. Example: I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs” they are not really going to do that. It is all just sarcasm. He is comparing the children to the pigs and cooking them as pigs with a knife.
7. Swift enumerates six reasons his proposal will work. Discuss how these paragraphs impact his purpose.
Answer: These are all ways of how to get money. MY: The first reason is that he is just slimming down the surplus of employment. When he does that be believes that more money will come up.
ORIGINAL: For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the number of Papists, with whom we are yearly over-run, 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.
MY Second reason: if the people have valuable they can “pawn” them off and use that as money.
Original: Secondly, The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by law may be made liable to a distress, and help to pay their landlord's rent, their corn and cattle being already seized, and money a thing unknown
MY Third reason: Infants do not deserve money. By not giving children money then, that gives the people more of an offer.
Original: Thirdly, Whereas the maintainance of an hundred thousand children, from two years old, and upwards, cannot be computed at less than ten shillings a piece per annum, the nation's stock will be thereby encreased fifty thousand pounds per annum, besides 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 our selves, the goods being entirely of our own growth and manufacture.
My: Fourth reason: You will get rid of getting money for raising your children after the first year. This is a crutch and will give a little motivation for you go to go out and work for yourselves.
ORIGINAL: Fourthly, The constant breeders, besides 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.
My Fifth: People will try to show off to their friends by making everything they have expensive. By doing this it is hard if you actually do not have the money for yourself. In this case, the people did not have the money. He was just doing this for his guests.
ORIGINAL: 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 skilful cook, who understands how to oblige his guests, will contrive to make it as expensive as they please.
MY Sixth: (Sarcasm) “them could bring the fattest child to the market” But, pays nice if you get married but, if you have kids you will be rewarded greatly, by feeding your family and if you do not have kids such as a miscarriage then do not fear to kick or beat them (as their punishment) HOW DO YOU EXPECT US TO GET OUT OF THIS DEPRESSION. Through the kids, tight unemployment, and money setback.
ORIGINAL: 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 encrease the care and tenderness of mothers towards their children, when they were sure of a settlement for life to the poor babes, provided in some sort by the publick, to their annual profit instead of expence. We should soon 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, or sow when they are ready to farrow; nor offer to beat or kick them (as is too frequent a practice) for fear of a miscarriage.

8. Towards the end of the essay, locate the paragraph that begins "I can think of no one objection that will possibly be raised..." How is this paragraph different from the rest of his essay?
Answer: This paragraph is different from the rest because throughout the essay he was ranting on about how poor the country was and what we were going to do to fix it and what should be done. But, in this paragraph it describes the aspects of the “other side” Like every side has 2 stories this paragraph is the side where Swift is describing coming together and living in respect and having a spirit of honesty. To me it seems like Swift is describing what Ireland is like currently in the time-era where he is at. Defiantly makes a peaceful tone to the story.

9. Re-read the final paragraph. How does this paragraph contribute to Swift’s purpose?
Answer: You know those advisory warnings where it says “Warning do not try this at home, everything you see is done by experts etc. etc. etc.” Well, that is Swift’s way of warning the people that this is just a story. This is not done intentionally. He uses an example that he has a wife and daughter. If you put them in the story they would undergo harsh treatment. So, yes that is Swift’s way of warning everyone this is just a story that is done for the humorous aspect of reading.
10. When originally published, some readers were outraged by Swift's proposal. At what point is it clear to you that "A Modest Proposal" is a satire?
Answer: As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years, upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of our projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in their computation. It is true, a child just dropt from its dam, may be supported by her milk, for a solar year, with little other nourishment: at most not above the value of two shillings, 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 cloathing of many thousands. Into the 4th paragraph .
-At first I was like. Am I really reading a story about eating children. Told my classmates. Then they were laughing because it was crazy. But, then just reading I realized that it is just crazy sarcastic satire. (Personally)