Response to the reading of "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift

     I wanted to say before I begin answering the questions that we were appointed to do so for our week 2 blog post, that "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift has become one of my new favorite reads. Its raw, and has a lot of shock value with sarcasm and irony throughout. Jonathan Swift is writing during a time when a dark cloud of despair has fallen over his native country Ireland.This BBC website gives us more insight of what is happening around that time He vividly describes in the beginning of the article the Irish beggars roaming the streets wearing nothing but rags, persistently asking strangers for food or money. He describes these beggars as mainly female, and they are usually accompanied by many children. These children are troublesome, most likely to end up as thieves, sugar plantation slaves or an expendable soldiers for the Pretender. (A Modest Proposal par. 1) Swift seems very disappointed with the Irish people for their lack of will to do better for themselves, as well as the savage beast like cruelty from the English landlords of that time.

As you read more of his proposal, he mocks the Irish people and the English by suggesting that in order to solve the problem with the increasing number of poor, would be to eat their babies. It's not obvious right away that he is not serious about this, as he states "a 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." (A Modest Proposal par. 7) Reading further his ideas become more clear, though full of sarcasm and irony. He is mocking the Irish for being so submissive to the English, that if they did have a chance to sell their own baby for profit that they probably would in order to pay rent and regain their sovereignty. It mocks the English for their cruelty to the Irish, its very apparent as he jokingly states "I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefor very proper for the landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children." (A Modest Proposal par. 8) 

His solution is logical in the sense that if the poor were given the opportunity to produce goods again (in his example their babies), that they would be self sufficient, able to support themselves once more, while also pleasing the wealthy. He begins listing reasons to support his claim, sarcastically stating it would decrease the Catholics which at that time Protestants were prejudice towards. When you understand the history behind that remark, it is rather hilarious because of the tension between the Protestants and the Catholics. Secondly, the poor would finally have something of value once again, being able to produce wealth to pay for their rent, since they lost their livestock and land already to the landlords. Thirdly, it will create a sort of monopoly for the wealthy. They buy the babies, which supports the family, and the beggars decrease saving the wealthy money in the long scheme of things. The baby is turned into a delicious dish, whether at the table of a wealthy gentleman, or at a gourmet restaurant, where people pay lots of money to have it cooked to perfection, thus the money is continuously circulating back to the rich. Fourthly, the parents will be relieved of not having to support their children after the first year because it will be sold for food, and the parents make a good profit too. Fifthly, the economy will increase as travelers will frequent taverns to eat dishes prepared with skill and knowledge by chefs. The owners can make the dishes as expensive as they would like, because people who aspire for good food are willing to pay anything to have it. Sixthly, it would increase marriage which at the time was either rewarded or enforced by law and penalties. It would also increase affection within the family. The mother and father would appreciate the child more since it is profitable, and the domestic violence would decrease. (A Modest Proposal pars.17-22)

After reading the article entirely, you finally realize what his proposal was really about. Swift shows us in a satirical writing that Ireland is being defeated partly due to the people themselves, and due to the English bestiality upon them. In answering what is to be done with the vast number of poor elderly people, he ironically states  "they are every day dying, and rotting, by cold and famine, and filth, and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected" (A Modest Proposal par.15) This paints a graphic picture to the reader, and adds more feelings of sympathy for the Irish. He continues on, and further sheds light on the problem with the young men during that time. "They cannot get work, and consequently pine away from want of nourishment, to a degree, that if any time they are accidentally hired to common labour, they have not the strength to perform it, and thus the country and themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come". (A Modest Proposal par.15) As a reader we get this gruesome picture of Ireland, sick and handicapped full of despair, poverty, death, prejudice, and merciless English landlords. His proposal is absurd if taken seriously, but if we put the absurdity aside and take from it the basic fundamentals he imposes, we can see that his proposal is sincere and logical.

I apologize for the length of my response on this blog post, but I wanted to be exact with my answers and really reveal what I feel Swift was trying to show us in his piece of writing. I love the sick twist he put into it, to show the brutality that the English inflicted upon the Irish. If you read the article in the link I provided, it really exposes us to what was really happening during that time from a historical stand point, and makes "A Modest Proposal" all the more fascinating and disturbing. I am glad I read Vlad Nabokov's "Good Readers, Good Writera" prior to reading Jonathan Swifts piece, because you really need to re-read it, have imagination, artistic sense, and most important, a dictionary. I found quite a few words that I didn't understand, but using the dictionary continuously enlightened me immensely and I was able to understand and enjoy the story that much more! I loved this writing, and I hope you did as well.

-David Hubbard

WORKS CITED

Schaefer, Brandon. A Modest Proposal. 16 Nov. 2010. Photograph. Flicker.com. Web. 18 Jan. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandonschaefer/5182142485/ >

Swift, Jonathan. "A Modest Proposal." 1729. Gutenburg EBook. 21 Dec. 2011. Web. 18 Jan. 2012
<http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1080/1080-h/1080-h.htm >

Response to Good Readers and Good Writers

     Vladimir Nabokov sought for readers to achieve a deeper understanding of the complex mechanics that writers present through novels. He descriptively compares authors to master artist, how a book is like a canvas, a work of art. Nabokov informs readers that to be a good reader they must have “imagination, memory, a dictionary, and some artistic sense.”(Good Readers and Good Writers Par. 1 pg. 615) For readers to gaze at art through a novel, one must re-read it over. Nabokov explains that when once gazes into a painting, the eyes are stationary. When one reads a novel, the eyes are moving left to right tiresomely, preventing the reader from fully grasping the world in which the author has made. Only when the book is re-read multiple times can one behave towards it as one behaves towards a painting.  Readers also must maintain aloofness, and try to view the authors world without bias from their own, staying slightly detached. He states “In order to bask in that magic a wise reader reads the book of genius not with his heart, not so much with his brain, but with his spine.” (Good Readers and Good Writers Par. 2 pg 617)

     I agree with Nabokov, a good reader has to treat a novel like they would a piece of art. As readers we must perceive the world of the author without comparing it to our own when we are first acquainting ourselves with the new surroundings as this can taint our perception of the world that was created for us. Before, I had thought to be a good reader, one simply had to apply themselves to the novel. Take the big details and pass over the small. I was wrong with this philosophy. I believe  Nabokov when he says a good reader needs imagination, memory, a dictionary and artistic sense. I love to read, but realized after reviewing Vladimir Nabokov’s “Good Readers and Good Writers” that I am a bad reader. When I read, I try to find common ground, somewhere where I can relate to the author. I also love books that impose nostalgia upon me, so that I can reflect on myself within the book. After reading Nabokov’s piece, I am intent on changing the way I read so I can submerse myself into new worlds, unbiased and with a slight sense of disconnect from my own reality. I am grateful to have been enlightened by Nabokov, if I had not I may have never fully understood what it means to be a good reader. 
 
     As I said in my introduction video, my favorite culture is Japan. I practice various martial arts and always try to aspire to have the mental and physical discipline of the mighty Samurai's I have grown up admiring. In Japan, the fiercest of all warriors were the Samurais. Its surprising that they took education very seriously, especially literature. They valued literature as much as they valued martial arts, because if they were good fighters but were ignorant they could not govern if the chance presented itself. Interesting, even the mighty Samurai knew the importance of being a good reader and writer. I apologize that I am going to submit a wiki link as for the moment I can't find any links with a brief explanation of the Samurai and their value on education and literature comprehension. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai

-David Hubbard

Works Cited

Trade Show Samurai. np., n.d.Web. 21 Jan. 2012 < http://www.tradeshowsamurai.com/

Nabokov, Vladimir. "Good Readers and Good Writers." Norton Reader: An Anthology of Nonfiction.

11th Edition (nd): 613-17. Print.

David-San

Greetings!

     I am very excited to be able to take this English 102 course and feel that this will be a challenging yet rewarding semester. I am an avid reader, sometimes I could just read for days if life allowed me to do so. As far as English goes, I am infatuated with adjectives.. I love stories that are descriptive that make a detailed portrait for me to gaze into. I am a nerd, I have a small social life and go to bed around 9pm every night. My favorite way to spend a day is quietly with my wife.
     I love being outdoors, underneath the canopy of the trees, listening to the wind as it passes along the trees and the gentle chirping of the birds nearby. I love nature so much that I want to be a forester to protect it, and to educate others on the importance of its complex ecosystems that we tend to destroy for its valuable resources. For inspiration I often go to http://www.fs.fed.us/ and wonder about my future life.
     I am eager to learn new skills and techniques in English 102 that I can apply to my life and the rest of my college. Thank you for visiting my blog! I hope we all learn from each other and have a great semester.

-David Hubbard