Advanced CR.. I guess? Help

jennyelena
Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:51:42 +0000

Jonathan Swift’s famous essay, “A Modest Proposal”

There only remains one hundred and twenty thousand children of poor parents annually born. The question therefore is, how this number shall be reared and provided for, which, as I have already said, under the present situation of affairs, is utterly impossible by all the methods hitherto proposed. For we can neither employ them in handicraft or agriculture; we neither build houses (I mean in the country) nor cultivate land: they can very seldom pick up a livelihood by stealing, till they arrive at six years old, except where they are of towardly parts, although I confess they learn the rudiments much earlier, during which time, they can however be properly looked upon only as probationers, as I have been informed by a principal gentleman in the county of Cavan, who protested to me that he never knew above one or two instances under the age of six, even in a part of the kingdom so renowned for the quickest proficiency in that art.

I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or a girl before twelve years old is no salable commodity; and even when they come to this age they will not yield above three pounds, or three pounds and half-a-crown at most on the exchange; which cannot turn to account either to the parents or kingdom, the charge of nutriment and rags having been at least four times that value.

I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection.

I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, 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; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.

I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration that of the hundred and twenty thousand children already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only one-fourth part to be males; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle or swine; and my reason is, that these children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore one male will be sufficient to serve four females. That the remaining hundred thousand may, at a year old, be offered in the sale to the persons of quality and fortune through the kingdom; always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them plump and fat for a good table. A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter.

I have reckoned upon a medium that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, increaseth to 28 pounds.

I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.

*According to the author, the proposal
(A)makes good economic sense and helps the poor
(B)provides food for the needy and the rich, alike
(C)makes good economic sense but does not benefit the poor or rich
(D)benefits the rich in several ways
(E)benefits everyone in many ways

Well, the answer is D, but I was confused with E… The explanation says that this measure proposed by Swift does not benefit the poor, but a previous question that linked the word “dear” (in the last paragraph) to the meaning “expensive” led me to wonder, “Who’s getting the cost of the cuisine?” Wouldn’t the parent get it?
(After all, the second paragraph mentions how the low price of kids “cannot turn to account either to the parents or kingdom”…)

My big question: doesn’t the paragraph kinda assume the parents’ interest in this “measure” as well? (even though this measure is purposefully ludicrous… I think Swift is assuming on a matter-of-fact tone whereby he’s scorning the rich folks and the wrong social system implicitly at least.) Isn’t Swift explicitly lying that this measure is the best of both worlds (to ultimately make himself sound more ludicrous via the use of hyperbole)?

Thanx in advance :D