Notes
• Ireland is being dominated by England
• Ireland in state of poverty; there is lack of
food, jobs, knowledge (RESOURCES)
• PROBLEM:
– Too many babies ---Not enough RESOURCES
• SOLUTION:
– EAT Babies; SELL babies; SKIN Babies; BREED
Babies
6 Reasons Why His Proposal is the Best
1. Lessen number of Papists
2. Poor will have something valuable to use as
payment for debt/rent
3. Nation’s profits increase and profits help to
pull country out of poverty
4. Poor parents are relieved of the burden of
their children.
5. Adds to the culture of the nation itself
6.
Inducement to marriage (makes people want to
get married and have kids)
Increase mother’s tenderness and care towards
their child- Abortion rates decrease
Domestic violence will decrease
Who will benefit from Swift’s
proposal?
• The rich will profit from the poor paying their
debts and the national economy will thrive.
• The Aristocracy will have a delicacy to enjoy.
• The poor will receive money from the sales of
their infants.
• Marriage and birth will be encouraged.
• Men will be encouraged to not beat their wives
since they could miscarry.
• Exports of meat will rise, since the Irish will be
eating their children.
Notes
• Swift denounces the absenteeism of
landlords who live in far off countries, like
England (where they spend Irish money.)
• Swift then moves away from the
consumption of children to examine the
reality of Irish economic problems.
• Many of the arguments presented here were
real solutions to the problems, but they had
been previously rejected so he proposes
something outlandish.
Notes
• Like any good essayist, Swift knows there will be
objections, so here he presents the opposition’s
side.
• He offers a list of ideas that others have
suggested, from rejecting foreign luxury to
encouraging landlords to treat tenants with
respect.
• He nears his conclusion by suggesting that if
someone else has a better idea he would like to
hear it, then ends ironically saying that he
humbly asks his proposal be considered since his
wife is not of child bearing age and his children
are grown.
KEY THINGS TO REMEMBER:
• Swift’s refusal to listen to other, rational ideas shows that other ideas
have been ignored and the problem is now of vital importance
• The occupation of most Irish mothers is begging.
• Specifically in this text, Swift uses many instances of verbal irony to help
stress his point.
• Swift supports his proposition by noting that using poor Irish children in
this manner will result in an increase in material for clothes.
• The author tries to persuade the rich to accept his idea by describing the
recipes the tavern-keepers will create.
• Jonathan Swift claims the motive for his proposal is for the good of the
country.
• Swift use irony to satirize anti-Catholic feelings by suggesting infant flesh
will be more plentiful in March.
• Swift supports his proposition that the Irish will benefit from his plan by
calculating the average rate of profit to mothers per child.
• Swift refuses to consider young boys as a replacement for venison
because their meat is too tough.
• Swift explains that his plan will help landlords since tenants will now
have something valuable to offer.