1667-1745

A MODEST PROPOSAL

Jonathan Swift

Childhood

Born November 30th 1667Born in Dublin, IrelandFather was an Englishman Mother was Abigail ErickFather died suddenly before his was born and

while his sister was a babyGrew up fatherless and depended on his

uncles

Education

1673-Attended Kilkenny School at age 6. Was the best school at the time

1682-Trinity College at fifteen. Achieved his Bachelor of Arts in February 1686, by special favour.

Wanted to pursue his M.A. at Trinity but was forced to flee to England to live with his mother’s relative, Sir William Temple

Became Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Career

Acted as a secretary to Temple Returned twice to Ireland in his time at

England. During the second time he was ordained priest in January 1695, and within weeks was appointed vicar of Kilroot.

Came to intellectual maturity at Moor Park, where meeting Esther Johnson.

Career

1692- Received M.A. at University of Oxford.Between 1691-1694 wrote many poems, notably

six odes.1696-1699 wrote A Tale of a Tub. Had three

parts to it: the Tale which was a satire challenging “the numerous and gross corruptions in religion and learning”; the “Battle of the Books”; and the “Discourse Concerning the Mechanical Operation of the Spirit,” which ridiculed the manner of worship and preaching of religious enthusiasts during that time.

Jonathan Swift

Swift died on October 19, 1745. He wrote a Latin epitaph for himself, which

Yeats translated into English:

Swift sailed into his rest;Savage indignation there

Cannot lacerate his breast.Imitate him if you dare,

World-besotted traveller; heServed human liberty.

Major Concepts

Jonathan used satire to call attention to the social and political state of Ireland at his time.

A Modest Proposal is a satirical work about the poverty in Ireland

Gulliver’s travels is satire about the state of English politics, law system, and education

Jonathan Swift’s Major Works

In 1726 Gulliver’s Travels was published, in the same year that he visited England

In 1729 A Modest Proposal was published

A Modest Proposal

Ireland was going through a really bad timeOverpopulation, poverty, abuse, malnutritionSwift writes a satirical piece suggesting the

eating of childrenSwift wanted to bring attention to the poverty

of his countryIf someone was seriously considering

cannibalism to fix Ireland’s problems, the situation must be really bad

He had 7 “good” reasons:

A Modest Proposal

People who don’t have a lot of money would have something of their own to sell

People who have a lot of children would be able to sell/eat them

People can have children without having to worry about feeding/caring for them

Cooks would become experienced in another dish Men would be more respectful towards their wives as

they are bearing their way of making money Mothers would be more respectful to their children

because they get more money the healthier they are People will pay more money for something unique and

different

Gulliver’s Travels

In 1720 he began Gulliver's Travels, which intended, as he said in a letter to Alexander Pope, "to vex the world, not to divert it."

Quotes

“A boy or girl before twelve years old, is no saleable commodity; and even when they come to this age, they will not yield above three pounds...”

“The charge of nutriment and rags, having been at least four times that value...”

“Tenants will have something valuable of their own, which, by lay, may be made liable to distress, and help to pay their landlord’s rent; their corn and cattle being already seized and money a thing unknown”

Key Terms

BeggarsHelpless infantsThievesSell themselvesSaleable commodityDelicious, nourishing, and

wholesomeNew dish

Key Terms

The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own

Dressing it to perfection Inducement to marriage Rewards Men would become as fond of their wives, during

the time of their pregnancy Fear of miscarriage The goods being entirely of our own growth and

manufacture

Views on Society

In our group we took this satire to mean he wanted to bring attention to lower class’ and to poverty

Thinks that people don’t pay enough attention to what is happening around them

Need to come together in society more than they do

Interesting Points

Comedic yet effective way to bring attention to such a serious issue

Gulliver’s travels: An interesting way to portray England’s society; nobody seems to know what is going on

Impact at the time

He brought serious matters in a way that people could sit down and read with humor

Although many people likely brushed it aside, it was made to make people think and be uncomfortable by it

It was a very controversial subject, especially within government because for a long time, lower classes and people living in poverty had no attention

Some people likely took note and tried to do something about it

Hip Hop Rendition of A Modest Proposalhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Yf0LH8FtHAc

Sources:

http://www.victorianweb.org/previctorian/swift/bio.html