"A Modest Proposal"
Jonathon Swift
-
(1049) ~ He has a beneficial idea acquired from an
American. It turnes
out that he is proposing cannibalism. He is using irony to
make people
see the logical conclusion to their attitudes toward the Irish.
-
(1050) ~ let’s you know who he’s really attacking – landlords.
They have
devoured the Irish. He computes in very dispassionate
terms the costs
& benefits of eating babies. Only in places like this
does he
let his anger show through. Such cracks is the facade are
necessary,
or people will think the satirist is really making such a
proposal.
-
Problem is in Ireland. 17th Century, Cromwell invaded
because
they were Catholic and England Protestant. Obtained surface
control.
After the Glorious Revolution, William of Orange quelled a
rebellion.
This is why the Catholic Irish hate orange.
-
Landowners were in England; exploited all profits, leaving
little money
for Irish
-
Whigs also took advantage of cheap labor.
-
(1049 & 1052) ~ women compared to cattle ("constant
breeders." Hint
that he is not serious.
-
(1049) His Proposal. ~ 20,000 babes would be preserved.
Other 100,000
would be sold for meat. Baby skin could be used to make fine
gloves.
Of course, he doesn't really want this to happen, but in the
20th century,
the Germans did make gloves, lampshades, etc., with the skins of
their
victims.
-
(1052-1053) ~ This is his actual proposal. He has in mind
several steps
to take that would relieve the suffering of the Irish.
Rest of story
is to show British upper class the damage they are causing.
-
(1054) He claims to have no personal interest in profiting
from his
proposal - his children are too old to be sold as food.
Obviously,
the real meaning is that he doesn't have to worry about his
children being
eaten, so he does have an interest in the proposal.
Gulliver’s Travels
This is also a satire. The "Modest Proposal" satirized
essays
that claim to solve social ills.
Gulliver's Travels uses the adventure novel to satirize
English
society. By looking at Englond through the lense of other
cultures,
Swift shows us how irrational English institutions were.
This process
is called making strange, i.e., making the ordinary seem
strange
by looking at it in a new way.
"Making Strange" – distorts size, shape of people. Makes
natural/normal
seem odd. Gulliver spent much time trying to explain British ways
to horses
who cannot understand it.
Overview:
-
Part 1 ~ he’s captured by Little Endians; Lilliputians.
They’re
6 inches tall. Very corrupt and superficial (The war between the
Little
Endians & the Big Endians is over whether eggs should
be broken
at big/little end? He sees a similar irrationality in the
religious
wars of his country.)
-
Part 2 ~ This is the reverse of part 1 – Now he is
captured by 60
foot giants who are morally superior. Views mankind as under a
microscope
or as an insect
-
Part 3 ~ "Digression on Madness." He visits Laputa,
Balnibarbi,
Glubdubdrib, Luggnagg, and Japan.
-
Part 4 ~
-
Yahoos ~ savage animals who look & act like humans.
-
Houyhnhms – intelligent horses who rule the
island.
Part 3 Chapter 2
This chapter satirizes our own institution - the university.
The Laputans are so caught up in thinking that you can't get their
attention.
-
How DO you get a Laputan's attention?
-
What is distinctive about their island?
-
What music do they listen to?
- Modern
Laputans
3. 5
How do they write books?
3. 10
What is unusual about the Struldbruggs?
Is this an advantage or a disadvantage?
What special marital law do the Struldbruggs have?
Part 4
Summary: Gulliver’s crew conspires against him and throw him
overboard.
He swims to an island inhabited by Houyhnhnms ~ horses who
govern
the land ~ and Yahoos ~ degraded, deformed humans who behave
like
beasts. He is befriended by one of the horses who teaches him their
language.
Once they are able to converse, Gulliver discovers they are far more
superior
and that humans are much like the wild Yahoos. They do not know how
to
lie, cheat, and fight. They are governed by reason and thus have no
need
for laws. Two principal virtues are benevolence and reason. Gulliver
learns
to admire and respect them and eventually begins to detest all
"Yahoos"
including himself. He lives with the horses for 3 years until his
"Honor"
forces him to leave (because the other horses felt it disrespectful
for
him to associate with such a lesser creature). He eventually makes
his
way back to England. He can’t stand the sight or smell of his wife
or kids.
4.1
What type of creature does he first meet when he comes to the
island?
What saves him?
4.2
He describes the Yahoos. What does he find unsettling about
their
appearance?
4.3
Why do the Houyhnhms consider his appearance to be superior to the
Yahoos?
What enexamined stereotype on Swift's part does this reflect.
How do the Houyhnhms describe a lie?
4.4
Notice how he describes his crew. What do they do that makes
them
resemble the Yahoos?
4.5
-
Describes religious conflicts in a way that makes England sound
like Big
Endians & Little Endians.
-
What effect did English colonialism have on the original
inhabitants?
-
Criticizes lawyers, judges, court system.
-
What are the 3 ways of getting ahead at the king's court?
4.7
How do the Yahoos treat another Yahoo who has fallen from power?
4. 10
Why does he leave the Houyhnhms?
What does he think of people when they find him?
4. 11
How's he spend his time now?
He quotes Virgil to support his truthfulness, "nor if Fortune had
moulded
Sinon for misery, will she also in spite mould him as false and
lying."
Of course, Sinon when he said that was lying - his job was to
persuade
the Trajons to bring the Trojan horse into Troy.