Overpopulation Satire Essay [TOP]

A Modest Proposal For preventing the Children of Poor People From being a Burthen to Their Parents or Country, and For making them Beneficial to the Publick,[1] commonly referred to as A Modest Proposal, is a Juvenalian satirical essay written and published anonymously by Jonathan Swift in 1729.

The essay suggests that the impoverished Irish might ease their economic troubles by selling their children as food to rich gentlemen and ladies. This satirical hyperbole mocked heartless attitudes towards the poor, predominantly Irish Catholic (i.e., "Papists")[2] as well as British policy towards the Irish in general.

Swift's essay is widely held to be one of the greatest examples of sustained irony in the history of the English language. Much of its shock value derives from the fact that the first portion of the essay describes the plight of starving beggars in Ireland, so that the reader is unprepared for the surprise of Swift's solution when he states: "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 fricassee, or a ragout."[1]

Swift goes to great lengths to support his argument, including a list of possible preparation styles for the children, and calculations showing the financial benefits of his suggestion. He uses methods of argument throughout his essay which lampoon the then-influential William Petty and the social engineering popular among followers of Francis Bacon. These lampoons include appealing to the authority of "a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London" and "the famous Psalmanazar, a native of the island Formosa" (who had already confessed to not being from Formosa in 1706).

Critics differ about Swift's intentions in using this faux-mathematical philosophy. Edmund Wilson argues that statistically "the logic of the 'Modest proposal' can be compared with defence of crime (arrogated to Marx) in which he argues that crime takes care of the superfluous population".[7] Wittkowsky counters that Swift's satiric use of statistical analysis is an effort to enhance his satire that "springs from a spirit of bitter mockery, not from the delight in calculations for their own sake".[8]

It has also been argued that A Modest Proposal was, at least in part, a response to the 1728 essay The Generous Projector or, A Friendly Proposal to Prevent Murder and Other Enormous Abuses, By Erecting an Hospital for Foundlings and Bastard Children by Swift's rival Daniel Defoe.[16]

A Modest Proposal is included in many literature courses as an example of early modern western satire. It also serves as an introduction to the concept and use of argumentative language, lending itself to secondary and post-secondary essay courses. Outside of the realm of English studies, A Modest Proposal is included in many comparative and global literature and history courses, as well as those of numerous other disciplines in the arts, humanities, and even the social sciences.[original research?]

I humbly offer it to public consideration that humankind as a cohesive and cooperative unit should hold a mass extermination of the human race. Wiping out 50% of humankind would solve overpopulation in many ways.

I can think of no valid objection that may be introduced to antagonize this proposal, unless the Church of Euthanasia, who is the largest group trying to control overpopulation, receives 3.6 billion followers who commit mass suicide, making my proposal unnecessary, or people vote that this is inhumane selfishly. We need to think about the big picture, what helps everyone, not just us as individuals.

"A Modest Proposal" is a work of satire written by Jonathan Swift in 1729. At this time there was great poverty among Irish Catholics. Begging women and children were considered a great inconvenience and problem for wealthy English landowners. Swift's proposal, to sell year-old Irish children as food, is meant to mock the many ineffective and cruel proposals being circulated. He delivers his proposal with many details, such as projecting the exact number of children who could be sold, used for breeding, and even suggestions of how the meat could be prepared. Swift lists six specific reasons his suggestions will be beneficial, including allowing the Irish to pay rent and increasing the morality of Irish families because more value is placed on children and wives.

His ridiculous proposal ridicules the society of his time through the use of satire. Satire is writing meant to mock or ridicule vices in society. Swift uses the harsher version of satire called Juvenalian satire. He builds this satire using irony, or stating the opposite of what one would expect or creating situations that are the opposite of what one would expect. While the piece as a whole is satirical, there are many singular moments of satire, including the title's use of the word "modest."

He argues that children could be sold into a meat market as early as the age of one, giving poor families some much needed income, while sparing them the expenses of raising so many children. With 100,000 Irish children out of the population being set aside for dinner, his solution, he reasons, will also help to resolve the issues of overpopulation and unemployment in Ireland, giving the Irish economy a much needed boost, while making it easier for England to deal with its unruly Irish subjects.

The title of Jonathan Swift's satire is, "A Modest Proposal For preventing the Children of Poor People From being a Burthen to Their Parents or Country, and For making them Beneficial to the Publick" and was originally published anonymously in 1729. The essay satirically details a preposterous way in which the Irish can solve poverty and its effects, like begging women and children on the street.

The essay begins by describing the all too familiar sight of women and children begging on the streets of Ireland. Swift notes that mothers are unable to work as they must spend their time begging in order to feed their children. He explains that the children will, in turn, grow up and turn to crime or leave the country to support themselves. Swift then writes that everyone can agree that anyone who thinks of a viable solution to this problem would be worthy of a national statue in their honor.

Swift uses satire to make these points. Satire is defined as art intended to mock or ridicule vices or bad qualities of society. Writers establish satire through irony. Irony in writing is stating the opposite of what one means or creating situations that are the opposite of what is expected. There are two main types of satire: Horatian and Juvenalian. Horatian satire is a gentler type of satire meant to be humorous. Juvenalian satire, on the other hand, is caustic, or harsh and biting. Swift uses Juvenalian satire in his proposal. Suggesting such a cruel and inhumane solution could ever be accepted implies the cruelty and inhumanity of the society Swift is mocking.

His depiction of the Irish as less than human is one of the minor themes in Swift's satire. This is another way of indicting the wealthy for the way they treat the Irish. Another minor theme is the way Swift uses derogatory terms to discuss Roman Catholics. Terms like "Papists" and "Popish" remind his readers of their prejudice against Catholicism. The immorality of the wealthy is ridiculed throughout. However, there is a tacit condemnation of the Irish themselves for not doing more to improve their own situation. By not implying at any point that parents would object to selling their own children, Swift suggests everyone is to blame to some extent.

'A Modest Proposal' uses an approach called satire to make its point, which is the use of irony, humor or exaggeration to criticize the ideas of others. Swift obviously doesn't sincerely want the people of Ireland to sell their children as food, but he's using the outrageous concept to deliver a message.

The essay progresses through a series of surprises that first shocks readers and then causes them to think critically, not only about policies, but also about motivations. In Protestant England, many people might have shared the stereotypes about Irish Catholics, who would never go so far as Swift suggests in eating children. Yet Swift's declaration that the British landlords have already 'devoured' the Irish economically implies that his proposal to eat their children is no more than a more literal continuance of what is already happening.

In the end, 'A Modest Proposal' is anything but modest. It is an outrageous and biting satire aimed at exposing England's prejudiced view of Ireland and its people and to illuminate the inability of the Irish themselves to stop their own degradation as, little by little, they are devoured as much by their own incompetence as by their English landlords. 2b1af7f3a8