(Bryan) Daejin Kim 5/1/07 ENG105
Reading Map #2 Part One: PERSONA The author writes this essay as critic of contemporary economy of his country. He writes as himself, expressing much knowledge of what is going on economically. It seems that he has prepared himself to prove that landlords are being indifferent to their tenants and their conditions upon which it is hard to raise a family, especially with children. He writes with a unique perspective of having the Irish children be eaten so that families can make more income. Although at first, it is not easy to catch his satirical tone, he makes his point of view on cannibalism clear when he says, "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" (502 Swift). Swift even prepared himself with numbers: he provides how many people are unable to raise their children properly: "[...] I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand couples whose wives are breeders; from which number I subtract thirty thousand couples who are able to maintain their own children, [...]. There only remain an hundred and twenty thousand children of poor parents annually born" (502 Swift).
Part Two: AUDIENCE The author is evidently writing to the public of Ireland. This is clear in that by logic, his satirical essay is meant to make a change in the current Ireland's economic corruption. If he has a specific audience, perhaps he is writing to the landlords of Ireland; for they are the only ones who can possibly consider the situation of their tenants. However, the politicians and the wealthy do not seem to be the only audience. He does not excuse even the poor, for he mentions his utter disgust in the public's inability to live properly in their behalf.
Part Three: PURPOSE AND ARGUMENT Swift's main purpose in his essay must be to convince whoever has the power to make a change. As he notes in his essay, most of the families are very poor at the time. He mentions that there are a hundred and twenty thousand children who cannot be properly supported each year. From his satirical comment on cannibalism, it is easy to see that he is trying to make a change about the economic situation of poor families altogether. He mentions that "a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, [...]" (502 Swift). This is his satirical form of writing the opposite deliver to his message.
Daejin (Bryan) Kim 5/1/07 ENG105 At the end of his essay, he finally proposes an offer to the "wise men." He asks for these considerations: First, as things now stand, how they will be able to find food and raiment for an hundred thousand useless mouths and backs. And secondly, there being a round million of creatures in human figure throughout this kingdom, whose sole subsistence put into a common stock would leave them in debt two millions of pounds sterling, [...]. I desire those politicians who dislike my overture, and may perhaps be so bold to attempt an answer, that they will first ask the parents 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 prescribe [...] (507 Swift). He does not exactly propose a particular solution; however, he offers the above considerations. He again uses satire to express the cruelty of babies being sold, although it does not seem likely that this ordeal occurred at this time. The author seems to appeal to the audience's emotions, while disregarding their self-interests. Talking about one-year-old-cannibalism is surely to catch any audience's attention. He continues to distinguish these babies as "nourishing." Obviously, he is using satire over and over, writing about a cannibalism that really did not occur. His parodies reveal his personal despair and regret on journalism's inefficiency in achieving any progress.
Part Four: EVALUATION He definitely strengthened his essay with his absurd propositions. Suggesting that babies should be sold off to increase the family's income is, in any eyes, ridiculous. He clearly succeeds in strengthening his essay with these phrases that would definitely catch any humane person's attention. It is hard to assume that the author means to incorporate humor in his essay, but it seems that he is using satire in a more serious tone.
Part Five: RESPONSE Swift writes about the political indifference in assisting the public in making a proper living and the public's incapability to mobilize on their behalves. Personally, I agree with most of Swift's point of view in that the wealthy and the politicians do not hold all the responsibilities themselves. The fault, if anyone is to be blamed, must also be shared with the people who cannot even support their own family. For there to be so many babies who cannot be properly treated born each year, the public must take most of the responsibility and make a change in their living-style.