A Modest Proposal Meets Post Modern Era!!
Introduction
Jonathan Swift wrote a satirical essay titled "A Modest Proposal," where he delves into the impoverished conditions of Ireland during British rule. Within the essay, Swift presents a rather shocking solution to alleviate poverty: he suggests that impoverished Irish families ought to sell their children as food to wealthy landlords. It is important to note that Swift's proposal is not to be taken literally, but rather serves as a comical critique of British economic policies and the indifference of the social classes of the Irish people and communities. By emphasizing the satire, Swift sheds light on the dehumanizing effects of poverty and draws attention to the moral depravity of those in power. Swift is specifically known for his neoclassical contributions through literature, but what has stood out amongst his work in the Modest Proposal, are his post modern attributes such as magical realism, fragmentation, and black humor.
Summary of Element One-
In Swifts essay, he includes this quote “Infant’s flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March, and a little before and after.” This quote exaggerates the concept of magical realism by suggesting that eating babies due to poverty is a fantastical effect that shouldn’t be a norm of reality. It humorously highlights the absurdity of extreme situations that can arise from poverty, using dark humor to make a point about the harsh realities faced by some individuals. The idea of consuming babies as a solution to economic hardships is so outlandish that it serves as a satirical commentary on the lengths people may go to survive in desperate circumstances. I believe while the notion of eating babies is obviously disturbing and unethical, the quote cleverly uses it to emphasize the extreme consequences of poverty and the lengthy measures that some individuals may resort to in order to cope with their struggles.
Connections:
I can connect this use of realism to Greaves persuasive argument titled “SURE, THE VELOCIRAPTORS ARE STILL ON THE LOOSE, BUT THAT’S NO REASON NOT TO REOPEN JURASSIC PARK.” Greaves creates a persuasive argument on opening up the jurassic park again. Instead of capturing these 180 pound creatures, it’s so much easier to continue on with the magical realism in the air, and realize that it’s normal for people to die every now and then. Greaves discussed the opening withDr. Ian Malcolm (the lead safety consultant), and he claims “you were so preoccupied with whether you could reopen the park, you didn’t stop to think whether you should. He’s just a jealous man on the high horse, making a big deal out of just a few people, I mean customers come and go anyways.. RIGHT! Money is money at the end of the day. I think this extensive use of realism is also connecting through the acceptance of eating people in both stories.
Summary of Element Two-
In the modest proposal, fragmentation techniques are emphasized as the author involved the strategic insertion of a list amidst the paragraphs, including phrases such as "For first" and "Secondly, The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own" spanning across six instances within the text. This list not only serves to enhance the structure and organization of the writing but also contributes significantly to the development of a postmodern fragmentation effect, allowing for a deeper comprehension and interpretation of the text's various layers and satire filled meanings.
Connections:
I am connection this use of fragmentation to the poem tilted [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in] By E. E. Cummings. Within this poem, cummings uses multiple voices and fractured narration. He does this by speaking out loud and also inserting his inner thoughts within the parentheses. “I fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet), this shows the verbal and internal verbiage happening within the story. The structure of the poem highlights the intense relationship between the speaker’s voice and thoughts. The structure contains different spacing, parentheses, and repetition, which creates a difficulty within the readers comprehension. This creates a unique interpretation of the work itself as it toggles back and fourth from author and narrator. I think the use of fragmentation in both pieces of literature was used to create and refine structure.
Summary of Element Three-
In Jonathan Swift's satirical work, A Modest Proposal, the text is enriched with a predominant utilization of minimalistic postmodern elements, which is most evident when the author articulates, "Secondly, The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by law may be made liable to a distress, and help to pay their landlord’s rent, their corn and cattle being already seized, and money a thing unknown," and further exemplified in the passage, "I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom." Throughout the narrative, Swift adopts a minimalist approach, creating a story that is direct and to the point. This deliberate choice by Swift to employ a minimalist mindset highlights the gravity of the societal critique embedded within the narrative. I think this enhances the reader's experience by focusing on the reality and rules of the proposal put forth in the text.
Connections:
I connect this story to the music video titled “Radiohead- Pyramid Song.”Within the video and lyrics there is a distant abundance of minimalism. This is shown through the straight forward lyrics. For example, “All the things I used to see, All my lovers were there with me.” Radiohead uses these lines to keep an emotionless yet eerie connection with the listeners as it expresses the reality of the time while using little detail. There is also realism within the looks of the character itself. I feel the transparent look was done to exemplify that the situation of isolation or the end of the world could happen to anyone. It keeps the audience from stereotyping or assuming who the character may be, but instead creates an open mind to the numerous people that could be placed into this full circle moment. This full circle moment is also shown through the story as it portrays the realities of what sufferings and problems can create in a community.
Conclusion-
As each postmodern element is revealed within "A Modest Proposal," the infusion of realism sparks deeper levels of comprehension and ignites the imagination of the reader. This leads to an intricate interplay of vivid fantasies that transport the reader to a world where social criticism and satire intertwine and overlap seamlessly.
Works Cited
Cummings, EE, et al. “[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in] by E. E.… | Poetry Magazine.” Poetry Foundation, Liveright, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/49493/i-carry-your-heart-with-mei-carry-it-in. Accessed 10 May 2024.
Greaves, Carlos. “SURE, THE VELOCIRAPTORS ARE STILL ON THE LOOSE, BUT THAT’S NO REASON NOT TO REOPEN JURASSIC PARKGreaves, Carlos. “Sure, The Velociraptors Are Still on The Loose, But That’s No Reason Not to Reopen Jurassic Park.” McSweeney’s Internet Tendency: Daily Humor.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 6 May 2020, https://93c908e7-75fe-4f97-8e88-5e823fbe8c69.usrfiles.com/ugd/93c908_61abfd049c1343b1bf2b42f59a7decb9.pdf. Accessed 10 May 2024.
Herrera, Jesús. “Radiohead - Pyramid Song.” YouTube, 23 January 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M_Gg1xAHE4. Accessed 10 May 2024.
Nettwerkmusic. “Lonely High School.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 19 10 2021, https://media0.giphy.com/media/a3BfRpeKYLcgxBw8z5/giphy.mp4?cid=4672ce52a123ut1ne1tu39x74l9o6zitr5bw7mvm5og97xie&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.mp4&ct=g. Accessed 10 May 2024.
Swift, Jonathan. “The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Modest Proposal, by Jonathan Swift.” Project Gutenberg, 17 October 2019, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1080/1080-h/1080-h.htm. Accessed 10 May 2024.