Introduction
The author of A Modest Proposal and Gulliver’s Travels was Jonathan Swift, who wrote these books when England was losing its power and influence in the world. Swift wanted to show his readers that England could regain its status without becoming too dependent on other countries (Oakleaf 65). He did this by showing how people could become rich by doing something straightforward, such as getting rid of the poor and disenfranchised. Swift used a garden analogy to illustrate how a society could become wealthy and prosperous by weeding out the weak and unwanted elements (“A Modest Proposal” 8). By incorporating satire of exclusion and genocide in Gulliver’s Travels and A Modest Proposal, respectively, Swift drew attention to the dangers of religious and racial prejudice and mocked those in power who were using their positions of authority to oppress and discriminate against certain groups of people.
Swift’s approach to his topic is through satire, which he uses to show how he thinks things should be done differently than they currently are. He crafts stories that make fun of people excluded from society because they do not have enough money or power to get what they want out of life (Oakleaf 103). Swift also shows how some people have done just fine without having either kind of privilege, and if everyone had access to enough food, no one would suffer from hunger or poverty any longer.
Swift proves his point with great wit and humor, yet the underlying message is serious and somber. Specifically, Swift asserts that exclusion and genocide are wrong and should be eradicated. With the help of the unique approaches to writing observed in the two works under analysis, he states that everyone should have access to the same fundamental rights and opportunities regardless of their circumstances (Lund 32). This message still applies nowadays and is a reminder that the world should be where everyone feels safe and accepted.
A Modest Proposal
The argument presented in A Modest Proposal is one that Swift makes by referring to several different characters. He uses character development and interactions to highlight how people have used their power over others to benefit themselves rather than taking care of those who need help the most. For example, Swift refers to Mrs. Browne as a “sympathizing female” who is willing to help her husband because he has been “so long confined in his study from want of employment” (“A Modest Proposal” 15). According to Terry (33), the specified statement shows how women were expected to work hard for their husbands instead of financially supporting themselves or their families, as they should have been able to if they had not been so dependent on men for their financial support. Thus, the portrayal of the deplorable social status of women is used as a satire of exclusion to convey the main message.
The Satirical Argument that Ireland Should Sell its Children
Jonathan Swift makes his argument considering the emergence of Ireland’s potato famine, which began in 1740 and lasted until 1759. The potato crop failed because there was insufficient rain, resulting in widespread starvation. In response, Swift suggested that the government should sell their children as food to low-income families (Swift 38). He argued that this would solve two problems at once: it would provide relief for the poor and prevent children from being used as food.
Swift uses irony to make his point about Irish children being used as food for others’ consumption. He did not suggest that selling off one’s child was an acceptable solution. Instead, he presented it as an idea that would help society and the individuals involved by solving two major problems simultaneously. Namely, the suggested genocide was expected to: alleviate poverty while protecting children from harm (Chowdhury 18). Swift argued that if this plan was implemented, it would be more humane than the current situation and would help end the famine. The specified use of satirical genocide produces a resonant response in the audience due to the obvious absurdity of the claim and the exaggeration included in it.
Swift suggests that this would help to solve two problems, namely, the economic need of the Irish people and their moral deficiency. He points out how much Ireland suffers economically: “The rich grow richer, and the poor grow poorer” (“A modest proposal” 1). Swift then says that this situation is due to a lack of moral virtue among the Irish (Werner 83). This lack of integrity causes them to be unable to make decisions in their best interest, which leads them into poverty. In turn, Swift’s use of satire that further turns into genocidal suggestions allows highlighting the issue and drawing greater attention to it.
The satire presented in A Modest Proposal is meant to be amusing and entertaining; however, it does have some serious undertones. One can see how Swift could have been trying to convince his audience that there was a strong argument for selling Irish children as food for wealthy Englishmen; he uses humor effectively to get his point across. However, he also makes it clear at the end of his proposal that he is not suggesting that such a thing should be done (Herron 41). He ends his bid by saying, “I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work” (“A modest proposal” 10). This statement serves as a reminder that Swift’s proposal is intended to be taken as a humorous satire rather than a severe recommendation.
Social Injustices and British Hypocrisy
Swift uses his satire to make a point about how the people at this time could be held responsible for their actions while also exposing the corruption in a society that allows such things as child murder to continue without punishment (Chowdhury 17). Using his satirical style, Swift can ensure that everyone understands what he means by including historical examples (such as when Catholic priests baptized Protestants to get them killed during the Spanish Inquisition). He also uses humor throughout his essay for readers to see the absurdity of his proposal and, thus, the folly of allowing such atrocities to occur without consequence (Swift 44). By doing this, he hopes to make people more aware of the injustices and suffering of the Irish people.
Swift also satirizes the nature of humans, where he compares humans to giants and other animals seen as self-centered. He also notes that some animals, like horses in the story, behave in a more pleasing manner than people. Swift states that they are “commodities of no value” and suggests that they should be treated like sheep, to be “consumed” or “sold” as needed (Clark 77). This comparison is meant to expose the hypocrisy of the British, who view the Irish as inferior but still try to profit from them (Swift 57). It also highlights the fact that the Irish are being treated like animals, which is dehumanizing and furthers their exclusion and genocide.
Through irony, Swift powerfully conveys his criticism of the British’s mistreatment of the Irish, exposing the absurdity of his seemingly modest proposal and demonstrating the inhumanity of the situation (Yi 148). This irony highlights the absurdity of the British’s treatment of the Irish and the inhumanity of Swift’s “modest” proposal (Bezrucka 126). Using sarcasm, Swift can effectively convey his message that the treatment of the Irish by the British is wrong and should be addressed and dealt with.
A Letter to the King of Ireland
Additionally, in Swift’s A Modest Proposal, the narrator begins the letter by telling readers that he has just finished writing it, wishing his friend would read it before he dies so that he will know what kind of man his friend was (Swift 3). He then goes on to tell us that he will send this letter to the King of Ireland, who is trying to stop anyone from leaving the country because they are starving, and if they do not go soon, there will be people dying from hunger.
The letter ends with the author wishing his friend the best and hoping that he will be able to make it back home safely. He also hopes that the King will allow the people to leave and that they will not suffer in the process. Swift’s satire effectively demonstrates the injustice of excluding people from their country and the potential for genocide if the King does not act soon (Kvas 84). The letter highlights the importance of acceptance and understanding between different countries and cultures and warns of the consequences of exclusion.
Gulliver’s Travels
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift is a satirical criticism that shows how humans can be cruel and vicious to each other. The author thinks of human nature as funny and criticizes the Europeans’ ways of thinking. In the book, Swift writes about a man named Lemuel Gulliver who travels around the world with his shipmates (Chowdhury 53). He encounters many strange things on his journeys, such as giant women, giants, talking animals, and more. However, him obviously being a stranger to whom the specified communities remain alien, he continues to be excluded, which, combined with the ridiculous nature of some of the conflicts within the societies in question, allows Swift to introduce the satire of exclusion into his writing.
One of the essential parts of this satire is how Swift presents it: by making fun of people’s actions instead of only talking about them. He makes fun of them with exaggeration and sarcasm so that readers can understand hlessow ridiculous it is for people to think these things are honest when they are not real (Bezrucka 72). Swift also criticizes the Europeans’ mentality towards other cultures by saying they should be treated equally regardless of whether they are good or bad people because there are no good or bad people for humans to survive as a species (Werner 135). He also criticizes the Europeans’ attitude towards war and violence and their lack of understanding of other cultures. Placed in the context of the story about Gulliver and his attempts to seem les alien to the people and creatures that he encounters, the specified instances of satire of exclusion outline Swift’s main argument regarding systemic racism and similar problems within the European community.
Tiny Humans, Lilliputians, and Giants
Swift presents the reader with an image of human beings as tiny humans, each one different from the other. This creates a sense of surprise for the reader at seeing how small people are compared to humans in general. The reader is then introduced to Lilliputians, who are also tiny but much less so than humans (Werner 8). They are only about two inches tall, while most other animals, including horses and dogs, are much larger than they are.
Swift then introduces us to giants: humans who have been given special powers by God and have grown to enormous sizes because they were not given enough food during their childhoods. These giants can still talk like human beings but are much larger than any other human being ever seen before in history. They wear armor over their bodies and wield swords and spears against other giant-sized monsters called Brobdingnagians.
The Lilliputians and the giants are treated as outsiders and not given the same rights as those who are human. The giants are seen as dangerous and are treated as monsters, while the Lilliputians are seen as nothing more than nuisances and are quickly sent away when they are no longer helpful. According to Terry (61), this shows how little value is placed on those who are not human.
In addition, Swift uses Gulliver’s journey to other lands to emphasize the need for people to be aware of the consequences of their actions. Gulliver’s journey is full of examples of how rulers in other lands have used their power to harm those weaker than them. For instance, in one of his travels, Gulliver finds himself in the land of the Houyhnhnms, wherein the horses rule the land, and the humans are treated as animals (“Gulliver’s Travels” 36). This is a clear example of how rulers can use their power to oppress weaker people. Thus, satire of exclusion is deployed to communicate the issues of oppression, discrimination, and social stigma, particularly, the adverse effects that they produce.
Satire on the Practice of Racism
Swift uses various techniques, including reversal of races, character development, and sarcasm, to illustrate the absurdity of racism and its effects. The novel also uses sarcasm to mock the practice of racism. For example, Gulliver is amaze when he finds out that Brobdingnagian laws forbid the enslavement of their people. He is baffled by this concept and sarcastically remarks that it is unnatural (Kvas 39). This shows how ridiculous it is to think of enslaving people based on their race.
Swift’s satire in Gulliver’s Travels is a clever way to present a serious argument about the systematic exclusion and genocide of the world’s peoples. It allows him to highlight the absurdity of the “Great White Queen” and her actions while also bringing attention to the issue of racism. Swift uses his characters as mouthpieces for his views, so even his most minor characters have an essential role in conveying his message. For example, Swift uses Lemuel’s observations about Lilliputians being small enough to fit inside a walnut shell to illustrate how much smaller they are than humans (Terry 98). The specified scene helps readers understand why people would feel threatened by Lilliputians’ presence. Namely, the difference in size and the likely lack of respect for Lilliputians is communicated in the passage with the help of satire of exclusion.
Swift also uses Gulliver’s character to highlight the absurdity of exclusion and genocide. He is a firm believer in the idea that different people should be treated equally. This is demonstrated when he refuses to follow the Lilliputians’ plans to exile their citizens (Oakleaf 85). Gulliver’s refusal to accept the Lilliputians’ racism and exclusion is a powerful moral statement and shows how ridiculous it is to treat people differently based on their size.
Satire on the Practice of Colonialism
In Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift satirizes the practice of colonialism and the treatment of native peoples by portraying the British as uncivilized savages. The book’s first part focuses on the Dutch settlement at Surinam, where Gulliver is stranded on a ship with no crew and supplies. Dutch colonists are depicted as brutal, greedy, and uncouth (Oakleaf 114). They treat Gulliver like an animal, and they seem to have no concept of how to treat him as a person.
Swift’s satire in “Gulliver’s Travels” warns against the dangers of colonialism and the potential for ignorance about other cultures. After arriving in England, Gulliver travels to Brobdingnag, where he meets Lilliputians who are much smaller than him (“Gulliver’s Travels” 29). They are quiet, shy, and passive, which, given the difference in power balance between them and Gulliver, creates a satirical representation of social inequalities. When Gulliver returns to England and meets King Glumdalca of Brobdingnag again, he realizes that Glumdalca has been brainwashed by his own culture into thinking that everything above his waist is small, including himself. Swift’s satire shows how colonialism can lead to ignorance about other cultures and societies. King Glumdalca in Brobdingnag and later with Queen Glumdalca in England show how colonialism can create a community in which people become so preoccupied with their own culture that they forget to try to understand and respect the cultures of others (Chowdhury 67). Swift’s satire in Gulliver’s Travels warns readers not to be too quick to judge cultures they do not understand.
Conclusion
Jonathan Swift’s works, A Modest Proposal and Gulliver’s Travels, both use satire to address the issue of exclusion and genocide. In A Modest Proposal, Swift uses satire to expose the Irish people’s poverty, exclusion, and oppression at the hands of the British. He suggests that the Irish should sell their children as food to the wealthy, mocking the heartlessness of the British. In Gulliver’s Travels, Swift uses satire to address issues of imperialism and colonialism, as Gulliver’s encounters with different societies reveal the absurdity of imperial power. Through their satire, Swift’s works call attention to the injustices of exclusion and genocide. By using irony and exaggeration to make his points, Swift makes his readers aware of the reality of exclusion and genocide and how such practices are used to oppress people. Specifically, Swift has introduced Gulliver’s satirical perspective on the places that he visited and imbued A Modest Proposal with satire profusely to comment on the problems of exclusion and genocide. Ultimately, Swift’s works serve as a powerful reminder of the need to stand up against such practices and fight for the rights of the oppressed.
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