The satire addressed by Dr. Jonathan Swift in his “Modest Proposal” is one of which that reveals the hard times of the Irish famine. Swift satirically addresses the Irish governments lack of action upon the hungry, dying, and poor of Ireland during the famine. His proposal states that as a resourceful way of cutting down upon the famine that children should be marketed for the good of the people of Ireland. He writes that the small children should be eaten and 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 a ragoust”. This satirically displays his idea of what the Irish government is lacking to do; create a solution. “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”, this quotation again repeats the need for babies as food. With a satirical approach, Swift makes his modest proposal real. He uses diction and word choice to convince a reader that his proposal could actually be a possible solution. “I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs”. By dehumanizing the babies and making them a marketed “animals” Swift takes a hard stab at the lack of government involvement in the people of Ireland. The famine which is ruining families and the lives of so many citizens has not been confronted and nothing has been done, therefore Swift writes a “Modest Proposal” to offer his own opinion and input on what needs to be done to end this famine. By satirically proposing to eat the babies of Ireland; offering food, and a cut back on over population, Swift is actually suggesting that his “good” idea will be better then anything thee government has done which as revealed in his text is absolutely nothing. Swifts comically ideas are as followed “I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavouring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the publick good of my country, by advancing our trade, providing for infants, relieving the poor, and giving some pleasure to the rich”. By ordering his points Swift also makes his satire seem close to reality. It comes across as a real life solution and may even seem unfunny to some readers. The first read through, Swifts writing almost convinced me of his slight insanity, but Swift is truly just trying to make a “out loud and proud” statement to his own culture and place of origin. He is trying to make it clear to the government and citizens of Ireland that the plan of action taken by the government is obviously failing and the famine continues. By doing nothing, the government has allowed the citizens to die and starve, and by Swifts satire he is begging for action and advancement by the government of Ireland. In his satirical world, Swifts proposal makes complete sense due to the fact that it is at least a plan for action unlike the lack of action taken by the actual government. “I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion, as to reject any offer, proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally innocent, cheap, easy, and effectual”, in this selection of Swift's text he is clearly stating that because nothing has been done to help the people of Ireland his cost efficient, and effectual plan can “actually” help. The effect of his plan and tone of sarcasm and satire reveal his undertone of bitterness towards the laissez-faire approach of the Irish government directly pertaining to the famine sweeping the country and its dying, starving, suffering persons. Reading Swift's text the line between disturbing and funny is crossed multiple times but all in effect to gain a reaction out of the government and out of the Irish people. Not only is his proposal mad, disgusting, and unbelievable so is the fact that a government can watch their people starve and not take action. The definition of satire is literary technique of writing or art which principally ridicules its subject often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change, and as Jonathan Swift once said it is “a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own”. As Swift closes his essay, his main purpose is to persuade the citizens of Ireland to eat their own children, marketing them to save their own lives. In reality, his work is an art that while unapparent, scorns the government for their lack in help.
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