People's Capacity For Inhumanity Analysis

People’s capacity for inhumanity becomes evident when there is a time of struggle; when others need help the most. Throughout history the treatment of some individuals by others has been more than disagreeable. People’s capacity for inhumanity towards others has negatively shaped many parts of society, both in the past and in the present. The cruelty toward the poor people of Ireland in the year 1929 is greatly portrayed in Jonathan Swift’s essay “A Modest Proposal.” Through a persona Swift outlines the treatment the poor Irish receive on a daily basis. Certain aspects such as prejudice wealthy people, religious dominance, and tyrant landlords can result to inhumane treatment of other persons.
In society it is a great belief that money brings
In Swift’s essay this tension between the poor and the wealthy is clearly evident. The wealthy of Ireland believe they are far superior to the less fortunate and do not care about the harsh conditions that the poor have to endure. In the beginning of his essay, Swift talks about how “[i]t is a melancholy object…to see the streets…crowded with beggars…” (348). Swift is suggesting that it is a horrible sight for the elite to have to walk through town seeing beggars, especially females who are trying to earn an income in order to provide for their family. They are a nuisance because they pester the wealthy for alms. The wealthy do not want to be bothered by the famished Irish. This proves that there are bad social relations In Ireland. The populace do not meet eye to eye. Swift proposes that the children of the poor be well fed starting the age of one until they are succulently fat, and then sold to the elite members of society. Upon this proposal the poor will
In Swifts essay, an ongoing dilemma seems to be one between the English Protestants, and the Irish Catholics. The Protestants feel superior to the Catholics because of their religion, therefore treating them inhumanly. Assuming the expression of a bigoted Protestant, Swift suggests that his proposition of eating babies can solve this dilemma. He says it should be the children of the Catholics who are eaten because they are not a loss to society. Upon eating their kids this will “lessen the number of papists,” (352) therefore giving more position to the Protestant in the church as well as in the government. Papist is a disparaging expression referring to the Roman Catholic Church. This term is used to show the lack of respect towards the Catholic. Swift is suggesting that the Catholics are the Protestants worst enemies; they are the problem therefore their babies should be eaten. He is also suggesting that the English gain from the suffering of the Irish. Swift is telling the reader that despite the harsh condition in Ireland these two religious parties are waging war against each other just for power. The Protestants wish to get rid of the Catholics so that they may rule the kingdom and take everything for themselves. Swift being a protestant himself, criticizes them because he feels that protestant hold a foolish belief of Catholics being the enemy solely