As usual, we ran out of time in our discussion of Swift's "A Modest Proposal." Since many of you did not have a chance to share your final ideas on the essay, please take the time to respond to the questions below:
1. Swift's satire depends upon the audience sensing certain incongruities and finding the tone of the persona morally inappropriate. Discuss the moral assumptions that must be shared by Swift and his audience in order for the satire to be effective.
2. Diction is especially important in satire, and Swift is particularly skillful in choosing words loaded with strong feelings, associations, and even judgments. Find FIVE words that you find especially effective, and tell how they help Swift create his satire.
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1. I think that is must be mutually understood that cannibalism is unacceptable behavior that should be severely punished. It also needs to be understood that babies should be loved by the community, and that they are to be protected at all costs, for they are the future generation in order for the satire to be effective.
2.
Prodigious- This helps exaggerate the problem of the large number of babies
Computation- When Swift is discussing the specific numbers associated with his plan, the word "computation" adds to the cold and detached manner in which he is calculating the number of babies he is going to slaughter.
Commodity- When Swift refers to the babies as commodities, he strips them of their humanity and turns them into an object which can be bought or sold at leisure.
Butchers- When Swift mentions that the butchers of the land will have no shortage of work, it compares the babies to pigs and other animals that are brutally slaughtered.
Wise- When Swift is challenging the politicians to come up with a better plan than his, his use of the word wise makes it clear to the reader that he is actually mocking them.
1. I think that in "A Modest Proposal", it is important that Swift and his audience agree that no one in their right, humane mind would ever eat a child. Hopefully, this is true for most. Swift and his audience should agree on this so that Swift can display how irresponsible the British are in solving the poverty crisis in Ireland. By saying that the only option is to eat children, Swift shows how ridiculous the leaders are being by not making an effort. If both Swift and the audience agrees on this, it helps Swift convey his point.
2. I just realized that I do not have my Lit. book with me, so I will finish the post later.
1. In order for Swift's satire to be effective it must be understood by bith Swift and his audience that cannabilism is an absurd action and that it's a ridiculous solution to any problem. Mutual understanding that babies are innocent and basically have no say in the matter of whether or not they should be eaten is important too so people can realize plausible ideas with better results.
2.
Deplorable- This describes the kingdom as a place where the problems are almost beyond repair.
Calculate- This adds credibility to Swift's argument because he shows how his calculations can be perceived as logical.
Commodity- Swift refers to babies as objects rather than people to strip them of the fact their humans too in order to make people think that they are mere objects not living things.
Proposal- Swift uses this euphemism to legitimize his ideas, this way people will take what he has to say seriously.
Real- Uses this when referring to his proposal to mock how his real ideas have been shot down but maybe this crazy proposal will raise a few eyebrows.
1. I think that few moral assumption that Swift and his audience must share is that eating babies is not acceptable and is absurd. It is just an idea that Swift used to prove his point that the British were not doing a great job helping the Irish stay well fed.
2.
Modest- by calling his proposal a modest one, he makes the absurdity of his idea seem even more absurd. It makes his satire seem even more exaggerated.
Prodigious- by calling the number of children in Ireland prodigious he makes it seem even larger then it is. Prodigious means abnormal or monstrous, so it just exaggerates his point.
Commodity- by calling children a commodity, he takes their human aspect away and makes them seem as though they are an object of leisure.
Liable- Swift uses this word to add with how in his essay he shifts from fully confident to somewhat unsure of what he is proposing. By saying he doesnt want to be help liable for his proposal he shows how usure he is of his idea.
Breeders- by calling the mothers of the children who will be sold to be eaten breeders, Swift strips all the love and the bond between a mother and child. He makes having birth seem more like a part of a buisness.
When writing this, Swift assumed that anyone who would be reading "A Modest Proposal" would know that eating a human baby is far beyond the realms of moral accetpability. The very suggestion of eating our own babies draws attention the essay. The proposition is so outrageous that it forces the British government to realize the terrible situation developing under their noses. Swift creates his satire by addressing the unquestionably inappropriate issue of cannibalising our young.
1. I think that for Swift's satire to be effective, it must be understood by the readers that cannibalism or eating innocent babies is absurd and doesn't fix anything. Human destruction and extermination is never an answer or a way to fix any problem.
2.
Sacrificing- Swift uses this trying to make it seem like murdering the babies was a hard thing, a sacrifice, when really he doesn't make it sound like a problem in, "The Modest Proposal"
Prodigious- Swift uses this to exaggerate the large amount of babies.
Maintenance- Swift makes it seem like the population is a car that just needs some work on it where the babies are the problem.
Butchers- He's comparing the babies to animals and dehumanizing them.
Innocent- He uses this to mock others reactions since everyone believes babies are so innocent when Swift proposes to eat them.
Moral assumptions that must be made for the satire to work is primarily, that eating babies is bad. You don't want people to take Swift literally or he might end up starting a baby-eating rampage. Swift's use of austere language like computation, commodity, breeders, and maintenance add to his general tone of cold-calculating unfeelingness that makes this satirical piece so effective.
1. Moral assumptions must be agreed upon and absolute in order for the reader to understand Swift’s satire. One of these morals is that cannibalism is an absurd and atrocious practice in society. One must agree that this is so, in order to see Swift’s target of the landlord’s/government and his exaggeration in what the world has come to. Another moral that must be agreed upon is that babies are certainly not for consumption, as they are the most innocent of all human beings. If the reader understands this, then they can see the point that Swift is making about the corruptness of the government in their desperate situation.
2. maturely- he writes that he “maturely weighed the several schemes of other projectors” and this word makes him sound more believable and without the reader realizing it, they trust him with this decision.
Souls- Swift doesn’t just say “people”; he says “souls”. This gives the reader a different feeling about the text… a deeper feeling? A more connected feeling? Does the reader trust him more because of his respect for people?
Kingdom- he calls Ireland a “kingdom”. This gives it a more prestigious feeling
Humbly- he says that he will “humbly” propose his thoughts. This lets the reader come to him because they do not feel forced to believe what he thinks.
Computed/computation- when he uses these words, it sounds like he did math or something scientific/mathematical that is very exact and that he is very precise and correct in his thoughts. Uses this word as well to coax the reader.
1. I think that in order for readers to appreciate the satire in Swift's "A Modest Proposal", they must understand that Swift doesn't really think that eating babies will solve the problem of overpopulation. He is giving an absurd idea to satirize the problem and those that are trying to solve it.
2. Sustenance- Swift uses the word to emphasize the toll that babies have on their poor mothers. It could also be thought of as what Swift might call the babies that he speaks about.
Breeders- He uses the word when describing the wives in Ireland, as though their purpose was to "breed" babies for eating.
Devoured- This is kind of a gruesome word that is used to describe what landlords might do to the children. Swift says that landlords would be a perfect fit to but the children because they have already "devoured" most of the parents.
Rewards- Swift cruelly mentions that the prospect of selling babies as food would give people an incentive to get married and have children so they could recieve a reward.
Pleasure- When summarizing his satirical argument, Swift argues that eating babies would be pleasurable for rich people. He is satirizing how rich people can be stuck up and snobby and might consider doing something absurd like this.
1. I think that Swift and his audience must both be in a sort of agreement that eating people is generally not looked upon as a good thing. Without this basic understanding, Swift's readers could be very negativly impacted by his article.
2.
Scheme - usually when I hear the word scheme, it has a negative connotation. So I'm glad that Swift shows that his article probably doesn't contain the best of suggestions.
Sacrificing - this shows that the children are being devoured for the good of mankind, and not just for fun or sport.
Proficiency - this word demonstrates how quickly and effectivly things get done.
Humbly - this is an ironic word considering most of what he is saying has a rather forceful tone behind it, but it does show that Swift is really looking out for the good of his people.
Necessary - Swift, by using this word, suggests to his reader that there really is no other choice but to eat babies to save the economy. It's necessary to do so for the good of man-kind.
1. Swift assumes the audience's morals include valuing human life. They must also understand that the Irish have very little else to eat or make money with. The must sense how illogical he is when he claims that all the practical solutions are illogical and that eating babies is the only way to solve anything.
2. Melancholy - This carefully describes the situation of the poor in Ireland.
Wholesome - Claiming that eating babies is very wholesome is highly ironic. That activity is very detrimental and not beneficial or wholesome.
Fruits of marriage - There is irony that the "fruits of marriage" are then eaten as though they are nothing more than fruits.
Carcass - A carcass sounds like much more of an impersonal, industrial term, not something you would call a dead baby.
Compute - Use of this word makes Swift sound like a highly qualified statistician that has put great research into the importance of baby eating. This satirically appeals to ethos.
1. The assumption that Swift and his audience must share is that eating children is a ridiculous solution any problem. This is because cannibalism is a taboo and no one in their right mind would ever eat a person, let alone a child. This assumption helps illustrate the satire and how ineffective the British were with helping the Irish.
2. Flesh - The imagery of infant's flesh being sold is very powerful and help to make Swift's point of the grotesque and inhuman means to solving a problem.
Calculate - This makes Swift seem more knowledgeable which adds to the satire of seeing the logic in this proposal even though everyone knows its morally wrong.
Breeders - this is just dehumanizing the poor even more so that the reader can see that these are not "people" but items that can be used to solve the problem.
Humbly - This word is almost ironic in that he respects others opinions but his plan is the best and he shows the reasons why. He almost has to keep reminding himself to be humble and not arrogant.
Sacrificing - To add to the logic, he shows that this is not for pleasure but for the problem that they are facing.
1. I think to be able to understand this satire you have to understand the poverty of Ireland at the time and the constant state of starvtion because families can't afford to find food. i think it is also important to know how the government was working and how cannibalism was definately NOT excepted.
2.
modest- becuase he uses this word is very common throughout his proposal and how it is used with cannibalism.
proposal- This is in the title and it grabs the attention of others to read his satire.
comodity- becuase he describes children as "things" rather than people.
breeders- he calls woman breeders so that they have children for the soul purpose of food. its like they are cattle.
butchers- because it adds to how he lowered both woman and children. woman are the breeders and children are to be butchered.
Part Two:
Breeder: This word really brings out the inhumanity in this essay. By calling the parents breeders rather than parents, they are seen more as livestock than actual people.
Proposal: Proposal sounds legitimate. It makes the paper sound like a good idea and makes it more attractive.
Maintenence: This word makes the society seem even more like a cattle ranch. Swift uses the word maintain like the people are incapable of controlling their own life and that the solution would be for the government to manage their lives for them.
Humble/Humbly: By using these words Swift comes across as a wise man who knows a good solution that is just and fair thus adding to the satire.
Wholesome: Wholesome implies that the overall solution is good or beneficial. Swift says that eating children is wholesome. This act is neither good nor beneficial and therefore and ironic sentence that adds to the satire of "A Modest Proposal."
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