Modest Proposal Essay, Research Paper

Not So Modest Proposal

In 1729, with A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift raised the statement that, For forestalling the kids of hapless people in Ireland from being a load to their parents or state, and for doing them good to the populace ( 44 ) , we should free ourselves of them by our ain ingestion. We should bake them, fry them, or function them in a fricassee or ragout. Swift proposes his low ideas, for which he expects no expostulation, on the thought that it would be good to the parents, the state, and even the kids if they were to be eaten. He besides states that anyone who objects should inquire the parents of these persons whether they would non at this twenty-four hours believe it a great felicity to hold been sold for nutrient at a twelvemonth old ( 49 ) . Swift backs up his clever strategy with old histories of success by gentlemen in America and other parts of the universe. This shows that his thought is creditable because it has worked on old occasions. This fantastic thought has so many benefits that it s difficult to see how anyone would be so closed-minded to differ. For case, hapless renters would hold something of value which could assist them pay rent and besides it would greatly increase the gross revenues at tap houses where the cooks would endeavor to happen the best formulas for their new daintiness. Finally it would be a great advantage to those acquiring married, where as they could sell their kids for net income ( with the kids s best involvement in head, of class ) . Swift has a really logical attack to covering with the hapless and hungering. If they were to be eaten it would acquire rid of the job and besides create new chances for others in the community. This statement is emotionally sound as good. Swift merely wants the best for the kids and his state. He has no subterranean motivations to gain from his thought because he has no immature kids and his married woman is past kid bearing age.When foremost read, this work could be seen as an dismaying show of selfishness and greed but when farther analyzed it should be seen as merely the opposite. Although Swift s actual statement is that we should eat the hapless kids to r

id ourselves of their burden, his real argument is that we should, in fact, care for and treat the children with the respect and decency they deserve. It is because of this underlying argument that i wholeheartedly agree with A Modest Proposal .Swift believes that the condition of the children in Ireland is so intolerable that they would be better off dead. This argument can also be seen in the youth of America today. Many children these days lack the moral guidance that is needed to become upstanding members of society. This generalization of today s youth is shown through the absence of attention from their parents, the condescending perception by society, and their consistent decline of hope, probably much like it was in Swift s time. This absence of attention can be seen through parents disregarding their responsibility to be role models as they sit their children in front of the television for hours at a time allowing them the media to saturate the children with their ideas of responsibility and values. What kind of moral values does the media teach children? The obvious answer is none. The media simply instills an exceptance of violence, greed, and lust into the fragile minds of young children. Not much attention is paid to this issue because most of todays society views all children as a burden and something to be dealt with rather than something to cherish and be proud to have. This in turn leads to the hopelessness of a misguided generation. A generation that perceives themselves as being incompetent to fulfill societal norms. A generation that settles for what they get and does not fight for something better. As the evidence shows, A Modest Proposal outlines a fool-proof plan of easing the suffering of Ireland s youth ,in Swifts time, and the youth of today alike. Swift was neither greedy nor selfish. He only understood what needed to be done and figured this was the best way to get the publics attention. The only way to improve the state of our society is through the betterment, care, and love of all children. They must grow up knowing that they are believed in and that they have worth. By no means should we ever give up our hope in them.