A Modest Proposal
please read the article and answer Q1,Q2 in one page and,Q3 in one page , and make outline for the article in the third page
dont worry about the Q3 just write one full page double space
For Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland
from Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and for
Making Them Beneficial to the Public
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 cabin
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 strolling 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.
I think it is agreed by all parties that this prodigious number of chil-
dren in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their mothers, and
frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the king-
dom a very great additional grievance; and, therefore, whoever could
find out a fair, cheap, and easy method of making these children sound,
useful members of the commonwealth, would deserve so well of the
public as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation.
But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for
the children of professed beggars; it is of a much greater extent, and shall
take in the whole number of infants at a certain age who are born of
parents in effect as little able to support them as those who demand our
charity in the streets.
As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon
this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of our
projectors, 1 I have always found them grossly mistaken in their compu-
tation. It is true, a child just dropped from its dam may be supported by
her milk for a solar year, with little other nourishment; at most not
above the value of 2s., 2 which the mother may certainly get, or the value
in scraps, by her lawful occupation of begging; and it is exactly at one
year old that I propose to provide for them in such a manner as instead
of being a charge upon their parents or the parish, or wanting food and
raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall on the contrary contribute to
the feeding, and partly to the clothing, of many thousands.
There is likewise another great advantage in my scheme, that it will
prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women
murdering their bastard children, alas! too frequent among us! sacrific-
ing the poor innocent babes I doubt more to avoid the expense than the
shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhu-
man breast.
The number of souls in this kingdom being usually reckoned one
million and a half, of these I calculate there may be about 200,000
couple whose wives are breeders; from which number I subtract 30,000
couple who are able to maintain their own children (although I appre-
hend there cannot be so many, under the present distress of the king-
dom) ; but this being granted, there will remain 1 70,000 breeders. I again
subtract 50,000 for those women who miscarry, or whose children die
by accident or disease within the year. There only remain 1 20,000 chil-
dren 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 handi-
craft 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 3£. or 3£. 2s. 6d. 3 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 acquain-
tance 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 broiled; 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
1 20,000 children already computed, 20,000 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 1 00,000 may, at a year old, be offered in 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
twelve pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, will increase to
twenty-eight 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.
Infant’s flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful
in March, and a little before and after: for we are told by a grave author, an
eminent French physician, that fish being a prolific diet, there are more
children born in Roman Catholic countries about nine months after Lent
than at any other season; therefore, reckoning a year after Lent, the mar-
kets will be more glutted than usual, because the number of popish infants
is at least three to one in this kingdom: and therefore it will have one
other collateral advantage, by lessening the number of papists among us.
I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar’s child (in
which list I reckon all cottagers, laborers, and four-fifths of the farmers)
to be about 2s. per annum, rags included; and I believe no gentleman
would repine to give 1 0s. for the carcass of a good fat child, which, as I
have said, will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat, when he
has only some particular friend or his own family to dine with him. Thus
the squire will learn to be a good landlord, and grow popular among the
tenants; the mother will have 8s. net profit, and be fit for work till she
produces another child.
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.
As to our city of Dublin, shambles 4 may be appointed for this pur-
pose in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured
will not be wanting: although I rather recommend buying the children
alive, and dressing them hot from the knife as we do roasting pigs.
A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues
I highly esteem, was lately pleased in discoursing on this matter to offer
a refinement upon my scheme. He said that many gentlemen of this
kingdom, having of late destroyed their deer, he conceived that the want
of venison might be well supplied by the bodies of young lads and maid-
ens, not exceeding fourteen years of age nor under twelve; so great a number of both sexes in every country being now ready to starve for
want of work and service; and these to be disposed of by their parents, if
alive, or otherwise by their nearest relations. But with due deference to
so excellent a friend and so deserving a patriot, I cannot be altogether in
his sentiments; for as to the males, my American acquaintance assured
me from frequent experience that their flesh was generally tough and
lean, like that of our schoolboys by continual exercise, and their taste
disagreeable; and to fatten them would not answer the charge. Then as
to the females, it would, I think, with humble submission be a loss to the
public, because they soon would become breeders themselves: and
besides, it is not improbable that some scrupulous people might be apt to
censure such a practice (although indeed very unjustly) , as a little bor-
dering upon cruelty; which, I confess, has always been with me the
strongest objection against any project, how well soever intended.
But in order to justify my friend, he confessed that this expedient
was put into his head by the famous Psalmanazar 5 a native of the island
Formosa, who came from thence to London about twenty years ago: and
in conversation told my friend, that in his country when any young per-
son happened to be put to death, the executioner sold the carcass to per-
sons of quality as a prime dainty; and that in his time the body of a
plump girl of fifteen, who was crucified for an attempt to poison the
emperor, was sold to his imperial majesty’s prime minister of state, and
other great mandarins of the court, in joints from the gibbet, at 400
crowns. Neither indeed can I deny, that if the same use were made of
several plump young girls in this town, who without one single groat to
their fortunes cannot stir abroad without a chair, and appear at the play-
house and assemblies in foreign fineries which they never will pay for,
the kingdom would not be the worse.
Some persons of a depending spirit are in great concern about the vast
number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed, and I have
been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken to ease the
nation of so grievous an encumbrance. But I am not in the least pain upon
that matter, because it is very well known that they are every day dying
and rotting by cold and famine, and filth and vermin, as fast as can be rea-
sonably expected. And as to the young laborers, they are now in as hope-
ful a condition: They cannot get work, and consequently pine away for
want of nourishment, to a degree that if at any time they are accidentally
hired to common labor, they have not strength to perform it; and thus the
country and themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come.
I have too long digressed, and therefore shall return to my subject. I
think the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious
and many, as well as of the highest importance.
For first, as I have already observed, It would greatly lessen the num-
ber of papists, with whom we are yearly overrun, being the principal
breeders of the nation as well as our most dangerous enemies; and who
stay at home on purpose to deliver the kingdom to the Pretender, hoping
to take their advantage by the absence of so many good Protestants, who
have chosen rather to leave their country than stay at home and pay
tithes against their conscience to an Episcopal curate.
Secondly, The poor tenants will have something valuable of their
own, which by law may be made liable to distress and help to pay their
landlord’s rent, their corn and cattle being already seized, and money a
thing unknown.
Thirdly, Whereas the maintenance of 1 00,000 children from two
years old and upward, cannot be computed at less than 1 0s. apiece per
annum, the nation’s stock will be thereby increased £50,000 per annum,
beside the profit of a new dish introduced to the tables of all gentlemen
of fortune in the kingdom who have any refinement in taste. And the
money will circulate among ourselves, the goods being entirely of our
own growth and manufacture.
Fourthly, The constant breeders beside the gain of 8s.sterling per
annum by the sale of their children, will be rid of the charge of main-
taining them after the first year.
Fifthly, This food would likewise bring great custom to taverns,
where the vintners will certainly be so prudent as to procure the best
receipts for dressing it to perfection, and consequently have their houses
frequented by all the fine gentlemen, who justly value themselves upon
their knowledge in good eating; and a skilful cook who understands how
to oblige his guests, will contrive to make it as expensive as they please.
Sixthly, This would be a great inducement to marriage, which all
wise nations have either encouraged by rewards or enforced by laws and
penalties. It would increase the care and tenderness of mothers toward
their children, when they were sure of a settlement for life to the poor
babes, provided in some sort by the public, to their annual profit instead
of expense. We should see an honest emulation among the married
women, which of them would bring the fattest child to the market. Men
would become as fond of their wives during the time of their pregnancy
as they are now of their mares in foal, their cows in calf, their sows
when they are ready to farrow; nor offer to beat or kick them (as is too
frequent a practice) for fear of a miscarriage.
Many other advantages might be enumerated. For instance, the addi-
tion of some thousand carcasses in our exportation of barreled beef, the
propagation of swine’s flesh, and improvement in the art of making good
bacon, so much wanted among us by the great destruction of pigs, too
frequent at our table; which are no way comparable in taste or magnifi-
cence to a well-grown, fat, yearling child, which roasted whole will make
a considerable figure at a lord mayor’s feast or any other public entertain-
ment. But this and many others I omit, being studious of brevity Supposing that 1,000 families in this city would be constant customers
for infants’ flesh, besides others who might have it at merry-meetings, par-
ticularly at weddings and christenings, I compute that Dublin would take
off annually about 20,000 carcasses; and the rest of the kingdom (where
probably they will be sold somewhat cheaper) the remaining 80,000.
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. This I freely own, and it was
indeed one principal design in offering it to the world. I desire the reader
will observe, that I calculate my remedy for this one individual kingdom
of Ireland and for no other that ever was, is, or I think ever can be upon
earth. Therefore let no man talk to me of other expedients: of taxing our
absentees at 5s. a pound; of using neither clothes nor household furniture
except what is of our own growth and manufacture; of utterly rejecting
the materials and instruments that promote foreign luxury; of curing the
expensiveness of pride, vanity, idleness, and gaming in our women; of
introducing a vein of parsimony, prudence, and temperance; of learning
to love our country, in the want of which we differ even from Laplanders
and the inhabitants of Topinamboo; of quitting our animosities and fac-
tions, nor acting any longer like the Jews, who were murdering one
another at the very moment their city was taken; of being a little cautious
not to sell our country and conscience for nothing; of teaching landlords
to have at least one degree of mercy toward their tenants; lastly, of put-
ting a spirit of honesty, industry, and skill into our shopkeepers; who, if a
resolution could now be taken to buy only our native goods, would
immediately unite to cheat and exact upon us in the price the measure,
and the goodness, nor could ever yet be brought to make one fair pro-
posal of just dealing, though often and earnestly invited to it.
Therefore I repeat, let no man talk to me of these and the like expe-
dients, till he has at least some glimpse of hope that there will be ever
some hearty and sincere attempt to put them in practice.
But as to myself, having been wearied out for many years with offer-
ing vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of suc-
cess, I fortunately fell upon this proposal; which, as it is wholly new, so it
has something solid and real, of no expense and little trouble, full in our
own power, and whereby we can incur no danger in disobliging Eng-
land. For this kind of commodity will not bear exportation, the flesh
being of too tender a consistence to admit a long continuance in salt,
although perhaps I could name a country which would be glad to eat up
our whole nation without it.
After all, I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion as to reject
any offer proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally innocent,
cheap, easy, and effectual. But before something of that kind shall be
advanced in contradiction to my scheme, and offering a better, I desire
the author or authors will be pleased maturely to consider two points.
First, as things now stand, how they will be able to find food and raiment for 1 00,000 useless mouths and backs. And secondly, there being a round
million of creatures in human figure throughout this kingdom, whose sub-
sistence put into a common stock would leave them in debt 2,000,000£.
sterling, adding those who are beggars by profession to the bulk of farm-
ers, cottagers, and laborers, with the wives and children who are beggars
in effect; I desire those politicians who dislike my overture, and may per-
haps be so bold as to attempt an answer, that they will first ask the par-
ents of these mortals, whether they would not at this day think it a great
happiness to have been sold for food at a year old in the manner I pre-
scribe, and thereby have avoided such a perpetual scene of misfortunes
as they have since gone through by the oppression of landlords, the
impossibility of paying rent without money or trade, the want of com-
mon sustenance, with neither house nor clothes to cover them from the
inclemencies of the weather, and the most inevitable prospect of entail-
ing the like or greater miseries upon their breed for ever.
I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least per-
sonal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no
other motive than the public good of my country, by advancing our trade,
providing for infants, relieving the poor, and giving some pleasure to the
rich. I have no children by which I can propose to get a single penny; the
youngest being nine years old, and my wife past childbearing.
TOPICS FOR CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITING
Q1 .In paragraph 4 the speaker of the essay mentions proposals set forth by
“projectors” — that is, by advocates of other proposals or projects. On
the basis of the first two paragraphs of “A Modest Proposal,” how would
you characterize this projector, the speaker of the essay? Write your
characterization in one paragraph. Then, in a second paragraph, charac-
terize the projector as you understand him, having read the entire essay.
In your second paragraph, indicate what he thinks he is and also what the
reader sees he really is.
Q2. The speaker or persona of “A Modest Proposal” is confident that selling
children “for a good table” (para. 1 0) is a better idea than any of the
then current methods of disposing of unwanted children, including
abortion and infanticide. Can you think of any argument that might
favor abortion or infanticide for parents in dire straits, rather than the
projector’s scheme?
Q3. In paragraph 29 the speaker considers, but dismisses out of hand, sev-
eral other solutions to the wretched plight of the Irish poor. Write a 500-
word essay in which you explain each of these ideas and their combined
merits as an alternative to the solution he favor
……………………………….Answer preview………………………………
“A modest proposal” outlines different aspects based on children of poor people in Ireland. Generally, the speaker in the “Modest proposal” describes more than a few effects that result to poverty in Ireland. In addition, the essay “Modest proposal” describes the situation of Ireland and the effects of poverty………………………………………
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