Humanity versus Inhumanity An Analysis of Jonathan...

Through the creation of a pompous, highly educated and sophisticated proposer, in Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal, the targeted audience, the absentee landlords and parliament of England, and the reader naturally identify with the proposer. The proposer’s rigorous logic, serious and cynical tone deduces the ghastly proposition of cannibalism for economic, political, moral, and nationalistic gain. However, through the targeted audience’s identification with the proposer, Swift is able to propose the ironic humanity of his satirical proposal and thus indict colonial landlordism in Ireland and in Enlightenment ideals. Swift’s proposer’s tone is used for both the ostensible and actual purpose of the proposal; through the adherence to the†¦show more content†¦Continuing to appeal to the Enlightenment, Swift’s proposer begins to credit â€Å"our merchants,† (2634) â€Å"a very knowing American,† (2634) â€Å"a grave autho r, an eminent French physician,† (2365) and â€Å"the famous Psalmanazar† (2636) in order to justify the proposal through the creation of authorities. The proposer emphasizes the creation of â€Å"something valuable† for the tenants to produce their livelihood through (2637). Although the practice may seem inhumane, the proposer assures the reader that the â€Å"parents of these mortals† (2638) agree it would produce â€Å"a great happiness to have been sold for food at a year old† (2638) in comparison with the â€Å"perpetual sense of misfortunes† they have endured (2639). Another aspect of the Enlightenment Swift addresses is utilitarianism; Swift’s proposer demonstrates how his proposal will both maximize happiness and reduce suffering by maximizing utility. Firstly, Swift’s proposer discusses how this system will create income and employment for the mothers who are â€Å"ready to starve for want of work and service† (2635). Secondly, he argues that instead of starving to death, â€Å"the country and themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come† (2636). The starving Irish, according to Swift’s proposer, would prefer to become â€Å"breeders† in order to gain income for their living and