A Modest Proposal.

Today we read Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal in one of my creative writing classes as an example of satire. And irony. And hyperbole. With little introduction, and great anticipation, I passed out the brief essay and let them have at it. This class is comprised entirely of girls, all of whom are in international schools. As they began to understand what Swift’s humble proposition was, they were sure they were misreading the piece. [Watching their faces was great fun.] As they finished the essay I asked them what the premise of Swift’s modest proposal was. None of them wanted to say. I prodded them and made them show me where he clearly articulated his idea. They complied. And still refused to say aloud what Swift had suggested. I made them read it out loud. Still they did not want to, in their own words, describe his plan.

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 fricasie, or a ragoust.

“Eat them?”

Yes. Eat them.

“But…”

Well, consider his argument. He outlines all of the publick (sic) benefits of the plan and presents a very logical argument for why the children of indigent parents should be sold for consumption. In fact, he enumerates six specific reasons as well as peripheral advantages that were not even expected in the terms of the original concept. It’s brilliant, right?

“Ummm… but, you can’t do that…”

Okay, do you have a better idea? I mean, look at all the social problems he described in the beginning of the essay. Something had to be done.

It is a melancholy object to those, who walk through this great town, or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads and cabbin-doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning every passenger for an alms. These mothers instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in stroling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants who, as they grow up, either turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country, to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes.

“They did this?”

In spite of my desire to continue with a pseudo history lesson, I thought better of it at this point and reminded them of what we were discussing today. Satire, irony, hyperbole.  A palpable sigh of relief could be heard. [I cannot wait to share the book Make Room! Make Room! [good review here] and the movie Soylent Green with them.]

Swift’s essay is a brilliant piece of writing for demonstrating about a million different literary techniques and devices, not the least of which include the aforementioned, but also tone, persuasion, voice and political commentary (which is in fairness a conglomeration of all of the above if it is done well.) As soon as the young ladies were comfortable that our illustrious author was making a point rather than a proposal they were slightly less reticent. In fact, I believe they began to see how he was using the piece to present a variety of social criticisms. They even began to hit on some of Swift’s own personal dilemmas to do with mixed loyalties between England and Ireland and what he saw a genuine problems.

Then I dropped their assignment on them… Yes, of course, like you didn’t see it coming. They are writing their own “modest” proposals. I would say that the opposite of joy filled the air. I am interested to see what they come up with because this is an interesting group. Hong Kong kids are missing a few key chapters regarding social ills, because the ones that are here are certainly not bantered about in any sort of polite conversations. [Keep in mind also that when I had them read an article written by a nine year old detailing what she hated about her chores, it was revealed that none of them has ever cleaned a toilet, done laundry, mopped/vacuumed a floor or washed windows. They are 15 years old.] Suffice it to say that they were able to list social problems and also generate some subsequent problems from said issues. I told them they had to come up with something totally outrageous as a solution and present it in a completely reasonable and persuasive way. As you may imagine their comfort level with the outrageous is tepid at best. We will see how it goes.

I am not so comfortable with the outrageous either, but for contemplation I find it is great fun. And really, we are facing population and poverty problems just like all the dystopians predicted… Though Swift said it was the American savages who knew all about the finer points of infant preparation, so perhaps I am just predisposed.

I do have some modest proposals I would like to make. Perhaps on Thursday I will share mine and theirs. Until then, remember:

It’s people. Soylent Green is made out of people. They’re making our food out of people. Next thing they’ll be breeding us like cattle for food. You’ve gotta tell them. You’ve gotta tell them!

~ by Amanda on July 14, 2009.