Neoclassic Shadow on Postmodernism
Introduction
Johnathan Swift, “A Modest Proposal”, is a satire from the neoclassical era. At this time, Ireland was in a poverty crisis, and the Irish government was taking advantage of the people for their economic benefit. Throughout his work, he exaggerates the measures they are taking and provides his ideas on reducing poverty and hunger and increasing jobs. His work was foreboding and comedic and made his readers at the time feel conviction for their behaviors. Though a neoclassical author, Swift maintained characteristics of magical realism, fragmentation, and faction in his Victorian literature that accentuated the purpose of his claim, and its theme lasted the test of time and will continue to influence society.
Faction
Postmodernism in“A Modest Proposal”
Swift recalls actual events to begin his proposal, “These mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants.” (Swift 5). He is laying out the real situation for real people in Ireland, but turns it into a mockery by saying all these people can do is beg. Swift's proposal is comedic but is based on actual events, looking at this with a postmodern perspective, stemming from an aesthetic of oppression, amplifies the hardship people in Ireland have to live through. Nowadays, authors are much more cautious about commenting on current events, and that has to do with the delicacy of the situation, however, it is still accepted to be honest in writing as long as reputations are not compromised. Additionally, I notice how Swift blurs the lines between fiction and reality, he says “it will prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children, alas, too frequent among us” (Swift 6). He mentions another societal problem, and the same sarcastic solution to prevent abortion, by offering a way out of motherhood. Swift describes abortion in a terrifying, disturbing way, and proposes that keeping the babies to sell will lower the abortion rate, but what good does it do in the end? In Swift's time, this was seen as an aesthetic of identity, and they would rationalize the killing of babies to prevent abortion and find beauty in light of murder. His point is clear and has truth behind it, a shocking reality check that is needed in any era of literature over time. This reveals how one cannot tell the difference between him being literal or figurative when he speaks of societal problems, as they are all interpreted differently and many people have different controversial opinions, hence faction.
Link to Postmodern Music Video
Watch the video here:
As I reflected on Radiohead's postmodern music video for “Pyramid Song” I saw the confusion in the unsteady music, and how within the video a figure wanders the Earth all alone. It is eerie because there is something so human about the video and its realization, I couldn't figure out what parts were literal or not, and what was meant to be a warning. This is heavily recognized in “A Modern Proposal” as it sees real human problems and a bad solution for them. This completely reels in faction, and it transitions from magic to reality with no straightforward answer or fine line.
My Take
Swift's solution is horrendous and disgusting, but it is a valid question why these women can't work, or use abortion as a motivation for them. This is a mirror image of Radiohead's depiction of the end of time and how the figure from the video ended his life to not live alone in that world, these babies deserve more than to live in a world like that.
Magical Realism
Postmodernism in “A Modern Proposal”
Swift thinks of a horrific solution, “that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled” (Swift 7). He casually proposes that the wealthy buy the poor’s babies to eat and so the poor will grow their wealth. During Swift's time, perfectibility was strived for, he had a perfect plan to fix the economy minus any ethics. Today this is only something we hear about in horror movies or old wives’ tales, this does not exist in a science world, but it does in a magic one. Looking at it now reveals how when things are taken literally they can be taken to a dangerous level. Over time people have gained a better understanding of satire, but the wonder of magic is hard to reject. Then he takes it a step further, “Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flay the carcass; the skin of which artificially dressed will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen.” (Swift 8). Swift notes that they have more uses than just food, and could make a higher profit off baby gloves and boots if needed. It is normal for our society to make rugs, bags, and clothing out of animal skins, but it crosses a line with human skin, in a postmodern world. Just the fact that he had to bring it to this extent is horrible and unearthly. I could only imagine an alien having a great enough lack of feelings to be okay with doing this; it all goes back to the tradition of pride. Since the beginning of time in fiction and nonfiction people have had a concern for pride, even now we see people falling back onto old ways, and inhuman traits to get what they want. Things that should stay in storybooks are becoming too prevalent in a postmodern society.
Links to Postmodern Short Story
In Book Suraskis, short story “Decortication of an Airplane” there is a little girl who feels oily and uncomfortable, she wants to be clean, but only becomes clean and dry when the aircraft falls apart and flames engulf her. There is a bunch of magical realism as we have the technology to avoid this tragedy, but it is a metaphor for a solution to a problem no matter the outcome, Swift is doing the same thing. To get their country out of poverty he has a wish, but it is fulfilled the wrong way and ends up worse than before like the little girl. Now we know that people need relationships, love, and emotion to thrive, not death and money. Here is a video depicting a real human experience, notice how it does not include horror and eating babies. The video is also magical as it is a fictional character who came from nothing, yet still had a life experience. This is similar to them treating babies like nothing, in search of decreasing poverty and providing lives to these people.
My Take
Personally, I am a chicken when it comes to horror. The thought of using babies for produce and merchandise horrifies me, and I pray it was enough to bring the rich Irish back to reality. There is so much greed just marinating in the palaces of Ireland, and the children deserve better than to be treated like animals. If this was written in the postmodern era, he probably would have been less extreme and used something with less emotional meaning, and more in regards to wealth and social class. Their differences in extremism and style are also translated into their art and history.
Fragmentation
Postmodernism in “A Modest Proposal”
Swift uses multiplication to prove his reasoning, “For first … Secondly… Thirdly… Fourthly… Fifthly… Sixthly…Many other advantages might be enumerated” (Swift 9-10). He has an extensive list of digging deeper and deeper into the reasoning and rationale for his claim, searching for the ethics that are not there. In the neoclassical era, Swift used the importance of reason, to work through different uses for babies, ranging from their monetary value to marriage inducement. This impacts modern readers as it illustrates the lengths neoclassical writers and high society people would go to protect their wealth. Today we would renounce any actions like this, we would call it heinous, and terrorism. But we have to understand that to them this was sort of acceptable. Just like no one now would call for a solution this extreme, they wouldn't in the past. It would be more realistic, so while it is not realistic for us, it was for them. This reveals how he wasn't such a horrible guy, his era was selfish. The layering and layering of more and more reasons, and the structure of using an enumerated list adds to the reason and how they thought this was realistic. The multiplication of bad acts still happens today, and including this list in fragments brings to light the flaws of humanity.
Links to Postmodern Poem
E.E. Cummings’s poem “I Carry Your Heart with Me (I Carry it in my Heart)” is a tribute to an unreachable destiny. Cummings uses fragmentation as he jumps between his thoughts and what he actually says. I believe he would be friends with Swift, as they both strive for the impossible, yet won't/cannot reach it. They have contrasting feelings versus their actions, just like Cummings holds back from his true love, Swift announces his plans despite his disbelief in them.
My Take
The neoclassical traits are identified through their characteristics, and they are all shadows of postmodernism. Deep down I believe Swift wants to do the right thing, he is solely using comedic propaganda to illustrate the crazy means of the rich. He knows the poor are not disposable, and he wants positive change but has to use irony and go to the heartstrings of the royalty and find the last remaining piece of good left in them.
Conclusion
It's in the title, “A Modest Proposal” which is not modest at all. Modest is a satirical comment to underestimate the depth of the situation. When you look at neoclassical, Swift utilized pride, identity, and opposition to comment on the unjust Irish government. Today his work is reflected in postmodern writers. We see the intricate multiplication, mystic magical realism, and the mystery of faction to depict a deeper thought process even Swift didn't see at the time. We can apply his extremism and use it to fuel a better change in today's society and learn from his satirical tactics to gear the future in a brighter direction.
Works Cited
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