A Modest Proposal (Audible Audio Edition) Jonathan Swift Robert Blumenfeld Audible Studios Books
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A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland From Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Public, commonly referred to as A Modest Proposal, is a Juvenalian satirical essay written and published anonymously by Jonathan Swift in 1729. Swift suggests in his essay that the impoverished Irish might ease their economic troubles by selling children as food for rich gentlemen and ladies. By doing this he mocks the authority of the British officials.
A Modest Proposal is included in many literature programs as an example of early modern western satire. It also serves as an exceptional introduction to the concept and use of argumentative language, lending itself well to secondary and post-secondary essay courses. Outside of the realm of English studies, A Modest Proposal is a relevant piece 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.
A Modest Proposal (Audible Audio Edition) Jonathan Swift Robert Blumenfeld Audible Studios Books
“But, as to my self, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal….”Clever, brilliant and humorous satire and treatise here from Jonathan Swift that takes many a shot at several different aspects of how society handled the problems of poverty and starvation in Ireland as well as the rich among other areas. I find it amazing how Swift could take irony to a new level and for such an extended length of time in his essay, not only poking holes at aspects of society, but carrying it through. He begins his essay by setting up the problems and crisis of poverty in such a deadpan manner that the “solution” is such a shock (and quite funny). He argues so…well…swiftly and effectively, and elaborates quite thoroughly for his “plan” that I think, dear reader, you just might be convinced as well.
There are some definite laugh out loud moments from Swift’s essay. Here are a few gems below:
“they shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing on many thousand…”
“I grant this food will be somewhat dear and therefore very proper for landlords, as they have already devoured most of the parents…”
“…so much wasted among us by the great destruction of pigs, too frequent at our table; which are in no way comparable in taste of magnificence to a well grown, fat yearly child, which roasted whole will make a considerable figure at a Lord Mayor’s feast.”
And Swift says all this with a straight face.
This one is so good you’ll be eating it up.
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A Modest Proposal (Audible Audio Edition) Jonathan Swift Robert Blumenfeld Audible Studios Books Reviews
Satire, but close enough to potential policy to encourage students to think seriously how we treat each other, relate to basic economic terms, and separate humans fro other life forms- to some extent
Fun and serious read
...whether stewed, roasted, baked or boiled." Never in my life would I have guessed that the same author of the classic "Gulliver's Travels" could come up with this outright horror tale. Obviously it's meant as satire, but talk about raising the hairs on the back of my neck! How about this passage for sheer terror "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 on the fourth day." Had to save the second half of the book for dessert as my hunger for horror is quite quenched for now, but definitely a most satisfying book that will yet linger on my palate well after the oh so brief taste!
I LOVE THIS BOOK!
A Modest Proposal is a Juvenalian satirical essay written and published anonymously by Jonathan Swift in 1729. Swift suggests that the impoverished Irish might ease their economic troubles by selling their children as food for the rich.
This satirical hyperbole mocks heartless attitudes towards the poor, as well as Irish policy in general in that time.
Swift goes through great lengths to support his argument, even so far as suggesting various preparations and financial calculations for proper pricing of said "food".
To understand this book, you must understand the economic situation of the Swift's times. It was the start of a new industrial age of the 18th century and it was believed or the motto was "people are the riches of the nation". The general faith in the ecomony was that if workers were made higher wages, they wouldn't work as hard, thus they worked hard for little to no money. Furthermore, in the mercantilist view "no person was TOO young to be in the industry" Humane attitudes of the workers were basically disregarded and workers were viewed as nothing more than a commodity. Swifts essay is a hard, satarical jab at the state of the ecomony and the great divide between the rich and poor.
Most people were probably "forced" to read this in high school, but probably skimmed threw enough to pass the pop quiz you English teach no undoubtedly gave out. As an adult, I highly recommend revisiting this great piece of literature and it's almost scary and almost uncanny way of pointing a satirical finger at the plight we face today.
Jonathan Swift was an Anglo-Irish essayist and satirist whose work was produced in the early 18th Century. His most famous work is Gulliver's Travels (Dover Thrift Editions). As serendipity would have it, I was discussing the issue of immigration, in its many forms, with an Anglo-Irish friend. I offered a satirical as well as an extreme solution – with a straight face – but he was not taken in, and said “Oh, you mean like selling poor children to the rich, so they can eat them.” In this “instant” age, we shared that commonality of having read Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” written in 1729. I had read it in high school, and decided that a re-read was essential.
Way back then, Ireland had a population of only a million and a half. Swift calculates that there were “200,000 breeders,” and suggested that males be able to “serve” four females, a particular ratio that has a familiar ring. The people are often referred to in the same manner as animals, in terms of breeding, upbringing, and ultimate disposition. Swift frequently uses the term “Papists,” a term no longer in vogue, and indicates that his “modest proposal” would lower their numbers, a goal that he posits as worthwhile and essential.
It was good political satire in 1729. It ended so abruptly, and open-endedly that I had to independent check to determine if this version did not omit the ending – as was done in regards to a Shakespearean play I had read. But no, this version is complete. As for the satire, with our current crop of political leadership, it would be increasingly difficult to differentiate a satirical quip from an (dis)honestly held policy statement. As for Swift’s proposal, I modestly provide 4-stars.
“But, as to my self, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal….”
Clever, brilliant and humorous satire and treatise here from Jonathan Swift that takes many a shot at several different aspects of how society handled the problems of poverty and starvation in Ireland as well as the rich among other areas. I find it amazing how Swift could take irony to a new level and for such an extended length of time in his essay, not only poking holes at aspects of society, but carrying it through. He begins his essay by setting up the problems and crisis of poverty in such a deadpan manner that the “solution” is such a shock (and quite funny). He argues so…well…swiftly and effectively, and elaborates quite thoroughly for his “plan” that I think, dear reader, you just might be convinced as well.
There are some definite laugh out loud moments from Swift’s essay. Here are a few gems below
“they shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing on many thousand…”
“I grant this food will be somewhat dear and therefore very proper for landlords, as they have already devoured most of the parents…”
“…so much wasted among us by the great destruction of pigs, too frequent at our table; which are in no way comparable in taste of magnificence to a well grown, fat yearly child, which roasted whole will make a considerable figure at a Lord Mayor’s feast.”
And Swift says all this with a straight face.
This one is so good you’ll be eating it up.
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