A Modest Proposal
...subtracting a certain number of miscarriages or accidents that might even occur during that year: “..one million and a half, of these I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand couples whose wives are breeders...remain an hundred and seventy thousand breeders (503)”. If Swift’s proposal was to be put into action, he would have the Irish as livestock to produce an and sell their children for a living just like owners sell their own livestock for a living. Swift hints that the Irish should do the same to make ends meet in their own lives. Swift also gives a detailed schedule of how the children should be harvest for manufacturing and for consumption. Starting with the first year, Swift predicts that a child should weigh a certain amount and be ready for the market: “..a child just born will weigh twelve pounds, and in a solar year..increaseth to twenty-eight pounds...Infant’s flesh should be in season throughout the year, but be more plentiful in March...(504)”. Swift also gives examples of some ways a child’s flesh would be manufactured as “admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen (505)”, also some very creative recipes for cooking the flesh and telling the readers that it would make a very good and nourishing meal for those who buy the baby meat. But not only does Swift give suggestions of the proposal, but also reasons of advantage. Swift believes that the number of papist would decrease because most would be put to work making babies for the market. Secondly, the tenants of Ireland would be able to pay rent to their landlords and actually have something of value since everything they did own has been seized.. Thirdly, the economy of Ireland would florish because most would be working and the goods of children can be produced in their own country. Fourthly, there would not be ...