Modest Proposal
Who profits from these advantages? Who's suffers?
-profits: •parents profit bc they will get paid for their children and now have a way to pay rent. •kings and upper class benefit BBC they get to eat the kids and use them for clothes and other items •poor people because they have ways to earn money now -suffers •parents bc they are losing their children •children and teens because they are being sacrificed for food and commodities
What are the six advantages of the speaker's proposal?
-reduce the # of Catholics -it will give the poor parents ways to pay rent -brings more food into the kingdom -women would get paid for their children, they don't have to pay for their children after she 1. -brings more people into the kingdom -men will love their wives more. They won't beat them bc they want healthy, plump babies to sell
What was swifts main purpose for writing a modest proposal?
He wanted to get everyones attention and make them make a realistic, rational difference. He is targeting the weathy, upper class. He used irony and satire to get his point across
what means of livelihood does swift say that children don't usually master unitl they are at least 6?
a livelihood of stealing
how much would one "good fat child" cost and how many dishes could be provided? what else could those who are "thrifty" make use of?
at lease 10 chillings, 4 dishes, they could flay the carcass to make gloves and some leather boots. the butcher will benefit from this
what is ironic about swift's using the word "strolling" in this context?
bc everyone was poor, and 1 out of 8 even though they pictured it as a good day
sustenance
food or money to support life
what does swift identify as another "collateral advantage" of his plans?
get rid of the catholics
how do the italicized proposals differ from the rest of the essay?
he is presenting a counter argument; but he is saying Ireland probably needed this. he is presenting rational ways to fix the problems in Ireland, but the govt had rejected his thought.
how would you characterize the speaker's attitude towards the poor? how does the use of the word "dam" contribute to this tone?
he thinks they are worthless and he does not like them
what agreement "by all parties" does Swift seek to establish in the 2nd paragraph in a modest proposal?
he wants it to seem like all the parties agree, disassociating the parties from the practice
at the end of the essay, how does hw assure his readers that he has no ulterior motive behind this proposal?
it will only help Ireland, has to benefit Ireland financially, he has no personal interests to promote this work bc he wouldn't make any money, his son is 9 yrs old. his wide is child bearing
how does swift use language and metaphor to criticize landlords?
landlords(English) are the ones who have taken everything from the parents
what moral benefits does he identify?
lessen the number of papists, poor tenants will have something valuable of their own. nations stock will increase, no charge in maintaining the babies after a year, food will be a good way to come together, end domestic violence
commodity
product that is bought or sold
what does swift identify as the purpose of this essay?
reducing abortions, he uses stats to prove
censure
strongly disapprove; condemn
who does swift identify as "our most dangerous enemies?"
the catholics
what is one objection to his proposal that he anticipates?
the number of people will be lessened in the kingdom.
what other problem, regarding landlords and tenants, does this plan offer a solution for?
the poor, he isn't going to deal with the poor bc they are dying
what did swift's friend, "a true lover of his country" offer as another part of his proposal? why doesn't swift think this would be a good provision?
the want of venision, the boys are too lean and tough, the girls are about to become breeders.
what is a "melancholy object" to people walking through the streets of Dublin?
the women and children (poverty)
what purpose can be served by well-nursed children who are a year old?
they are tasty and can be cooked in any way
what effect do words like Breed and savages have on the tone?
they make the tone kind of strong