Concerning A Modest Proposal

"A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift is a biting satire that both pokes fun at and reinforces the idea that the English do not value the lives of the Irish. According to the biography at the beginning, Swift was born in Ireland to English parents, which implies that he has deep roots both in English and Irish culture. Also, culturally, the English to this day do not get along with the Irish. This is reflected in Swift's essay, which suggests that in order to do population control as well as feed the English's growing population, they should eat the children of impoverished Irish folk. The whole thing is pretty hilarious, my favorite part being when he mentions an "American friend" who says that infants provide "nourishment" and are "tasty." As an American it's funnier on a different level since, though I know that Americans never did this, the English may not have known what life in the colonies was like and might have believed it. The whole thing really pokes fun at how cruelly the English do not value the lives of the Irish or care that they are suffering and that they too are people. Definitely one of my favorite readings so far.

Parody of the Rape of the Lock

     In "The Rape of the Lock", Alexander Pope made great use of parody. Pope sets up this use of parody in his introduction in which he speaks to Mrs. Arabella Fermor and proclaims that "it [the poem] was intended only to divert a few young ladies, who have good sense and good humor enough to laugh not only at their sex's little unguarded follies, but at their own." This lead me to believe that this poem is an example of parody because it was merely meant to bring laughter to a situation instead of bringing attention to some cultural change. This view is supported by the background information given on page 1226. We learn that this poem is a response to an actual situation between two families. Perhaps Pope meant his poem to act as a soothing measure. Parody is in evidence within the poem as Pope describes what seems to be a lady's dressing table. He uses mockery to dramatize the image. For example, Pope uses details such as "the nymph intent adores...the cosmetic powders" to take the scene to the extreme. He continues, "To fifty chosen Sylphs, of special note, we trust the important charge, the petticoat" which points to the specific ridiculousness of the assistance needed by a lady to simply get dressed. Pope uses such ethereal creatures to draw the reader into a marvelous world, further mocking all that goes into preparing a lady.
     Why does Pope use exclamation points in Canto 1? Is there a reason why Pope uses questions in lines 7-12?

A Modest Proposal: Great Idea, or Greatest Idea?

I know what you’re thinking, and it’s that Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” seems like just too perfect of an idea. Well after reading it I felt the same as you. What a great idea, and if it were in the modern day it could be a perfect solution to the abortion debate going on throughout the world.

But my question is this: why stop at babies? Why put an age limit on this immaculate plan? Poor and starving people are still poor and starving people regardless of how long they’ve been alive. I propose that a hierarchy is made, so that anyone is capable of selling another as a meal so long as that person is below them on the chart. My immediate gut-reaction is to rank it (from bottom to top): infants, foreigners, female children (“children” being that they’re still in custody of an adult), black people (regardless of age, gender, occupation, etc.) male children, wives, Asians, husbands, landlords, politicians, royalty, nuns, priests, and finally the Pope himself, of course.

This could become a worldwide phenomenon. It would immediately solve both the overpopulation problem throughout the world (a topic that is almost never discussed, even though it has a major effect on just about every other aspect of our society today) and it would also put an immediate end to world hunger. As Louis C.K. said, “There’s no end to what you can do when you don’t give a fuck about particular people! You can do anything!”

A Modest Proposal

A Modest Proposal takes place in Ireland where poverty has stroke the country hard and left a lot of children and their mothers to become beggars on the street. Swift takes a humorous approach as he comes up with the most ridiculous proposal, to make meat of the children who are beggars in the society. The poem begins displaying the title and then stating, "for preventing the children of poor people in ireland from being a burden to their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to public"(1199) The tone is immediately set to sarcasm by the word choice swift uses to state his argument. By phrasing the sentence in such a humorous way it becomes clear that his proposal is not to be taken very seriously, although I am conflicted on if Swift did take the matter of poverty seriously or not. As Swift goes more in depth in his proposal he argues "children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore one male will be sufficient to serve four females." (1201) Swift concludes that children are not needed in this day in age for marriage, targeting both genders stating that only one male is needed to provide for four females, thus implying that one on one relationships are not needed and the boy beggars are a "one a dozen"in a sense. By the end of the poem however Swift states that he has "no personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work other, having no other motivate than the public good of my country." (1205) Thus my question has been answer that while Swifts proposal is all a joke, to get Irelands attention to the actual issue of poverty that is damaging the country. However I am curious if people found Swifts proposal to be serious rather than an attempt to draw attention to the main issue of the economic crisis in Ireland. Also, as disgusting as his method is, is there a significance for going so dramatic to use children as a way to solve an issue, if so what is it?

The History of A Modest Proposal

Okay, so I've read this before. I'm not sure if that counts as cheating or not, just a disclaimer.

Anyway, I love this piece. This is pretty much the early modern equivalent of The Onion and it's hilarious. It's one of the earliest pieces of truly sarcastic literature and a lot of people weren't prepared for that. More importantly, it's one of the best examples of political satire ever written.

It's important to note the political and historical reasons that Swift wrote the piece. Since the English acquisition of Ireland (circa ~1600), the Irish had been thoroughly abused by the English, Scottish, and Welsh who became their lords and farmowners. This abuse was generally ignored by your average Englisman until the early 1700s. At that time, wealthy and educated Englishmen and women began to become socially conscious, making themselves quite busy between the "Irish question" and the use of African slaves in the colonies. Of course, we all know that the "Irish question" later became open revolt led by the IRA about 200 years later.

I think, and I'm not alone, that the way Swift went about addressing this issue was truly hilarious if slightly less effective. Rather than writing a dry article that would possibly directly influence the average Englishman, he wrote a deeply sarcastic, demented piece of work that only the truly literate and well versed in bitter sarcasm would understand. Why would he write about eating little Irish children to alleviate the famine and wet wealthy Briton's appetites? That is for the reader to decide, I suppose, because I sure as hell don't know.

A Modest Proposal

            After reading this passage I honestly do not even know what to think.  That was the strangest and most awful thing I have ever heard.  The thought of killing your own child/children in order to make money for yourself just blows me away.  I also do not understand why, it explains that the people who would do this will have no money therefore killing their child for meat will make them money.  However they would be feeding the fattening and hearty meals in order to make them fat.  If they have the money to make this food then why do they need to kill their children?  They should have enough money to keep them alive.  It later explains how it would better the nation on page 1205 “I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good of my country…”  I do not see how in any way killing children would better a country.  Also, the thought of cannibalism being okay in a nation is awful.  This passage was frightening and very disturbing, I had never realized that something like this would be thought to help or better a country.

Group 3

After reading Paradise Lost IV, I wanted to focus on the scene where Satan reflects on how the earth is more beautiful than heaven, and is jealous of Adam and Eve that they get to enjoy their own paradise.  Satan says, "With Heav'nly spoils, our spoils: what he decreed he effected man he made, and for him built magnificent this world, and earth his seat " (151-153).  Satan realizes that it is better to be good than evil, but it is too late for him to turn around, therefore Satan makes the decision to ruin mankind by tempting Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, even after his soul-searching.  He thinks that it is too late to repent and so he feels that he needs to stay evil.  My question is, why would Satan even think twice about being good, hasnt he always been thought of as evil? Why do you think Milton puts this excerpt into his story?

Satan

For my blog post on Book IX of Paradise Lost, I want to focus on Satan just before he attempts to tempt Eve to eat the fruit. For a brief moment, we see that Satan somewhat withdraws from his hatred and evil when he is gazes upon Eve. "From his own evil, and for the time remained stupidly good," (463-464). We've only seen Satan in this text as evil, this was shocking to me to see the ruler of Hell forget all of his vain thought for only a moment because he saw an innocent beautiful lady. This was also the first human he had ever seen before, so it makes me wonder would this happen to other humans he saw? Could this be evidence that he has not completely let go of his good side that he held in heaven? My guess is probably not, as we see he uses her beauty as a way to entice her and trick her. "Thee all living things gaze on, all things thine by gift, and thy celestial beauty adore with ravishment beheld," (539-541). We see here that he is taking his thoughts that he had when he forgot his evil ways for a brief moment, and using them as a tool to get Eve to trust him.

Temptation All Around

The actions and responses of Satan and Eve struck me as unusual based on my knowledge of Genesis. On of the main issues I had was the clear presence of darker human emotions before Adam and Eve were exposed to the fruit of the tree of knowledge. God gives a warning to Adam about Satan. He tells him about the dangers of temptations.  On page 893 lines 296-305 Adam conveys this warning to Eve, "For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses the tempted with dishonor foul, supposed not incorruptible of faith, not proof against temptation: thou thyself with scorn and anger wouldst resent the offering wrong, though ineffectual found; misdeem not then, if such affront I labor to avert from thee alone, which on us both at once the enemy, though bold, will hardly dare, or daring, first on me th'assault shall light." Even if Satan is not successful in tempting the couple, experiencing the temptation corrupts them. Adam, conscious of this, tries unsuccessfully to have Eve remain by his side and under his protection. The fact that the two have an argument is unusual because they are supposed to be free from the negative emotions of humans at this point. This may be the first sign that knowledge has lead them towards doubt. Even knowing about the existence of temptation has caused flaws within their characters.
Surprised as I was at this, I assumed that it could be attributed to Satan's presence already working to tempt their trust in God and each other. However, since he is known as "The Deceiver" and the one who causes the temptation I was alarmed at his reaction to Eve as she worked in the flower garden. On page 896 lines 455-472 Satan himself is tempted by Eve."...That space the Evil One abstracted stood from his own evil, and for a the time remained stupidly good..." He is so overcome with temptation that he has to stop all that he is doing in order to master himself. Strangely enough he is attributed with doing good because he overcame the desire to attack and rape Eve.
Was Eve's first sin actually disobeying the words of her husband and leaving his side? Does the presence of any knowledge equate to corruption and ungodliness according to this passage? Are the Angels, which include Satan and God, beyond human emotions like temptation and jealousy? Do we ignore the fact that God lied to Adam and Eve about the tree killing them, or is this an example of the need to distance humans from knowledge? How does God not immediately notice Satan's presence and remove him from the garden?

Monstars: Paradise Lost

What I found most interesting about Paradise Lost was Milton's portrayal of Satan. Even though everyone already knows that Satan is obviously the bad guy, you cannot help but feel a little bit of sympathy for him in some shape or form. Yes, Satan is full of pride and hatred for mankind, but he states that it is God’s fault for making him this way, which then leads him to think that God has set him up to fail. Not only does this shed bad light on God, it makes Satan actually look like the protagonist and God like the antagonist, at least for part of the book. Eventually Satan just ends up reminding me of an immature child acting out because their feelings got hurt. Satan even freely admits that God does in fact love him, but still Satan rebels against him. Why? Is Satan’s pride and vanity so strong that he cannot stand the fact that he is not as powerful as God? Even in the first book of Paradise Lost when it came to the battle against God, Satan seriously thought he had a chance at winning the battle, when obviously he did not. This makes it obvious that Satan views himself better than anyone, even God. 

Book 9, Group 3

In Book IX of Milton’s Paradise Lost, Satan as a serpent tricks Eve into eating the forbidden fruit by informing her of how good the knowledge she receives from it would be; however, I believe Milton uses this as an example that knowledge is powerful, but obeying God is more important than feeding your intellect. The actual knowledge Eve and Adam receive from eating the fruit relates directly to obeying God. When they wake in the forest, naked and ashamed, to see the Paradise has changed, “high winds worse within began to rise, high passions, anger, hate, mistrust, suspicion, discord, and shook sore their inward state of mind” (910). Once Adam and Eve woke up, they were filled with the knowledge they were promised; however, this knowledge was not as enjoyable as the serpent, Satan, had promised. It was great in a way that allowed the couple to see the Paradise they destroyed as well as their downfall as a species. The knowledge was clearly upsetting to them, however, and plagued their minds that had once been clean of sin. I believe Milton made the knowledge Satan promised hard to bear in order to inform people that trust in God is more important than the power knowledge can provide you with. Eve informs the serpent “of this tree [they] may not taste nor touch; God so commanded, and left that command sole daughter of his voice” (900). Eve recites her knowledge of God’s directions, but turns against it once Satan convinces her that God only keeps the tree from her because it is powerful. In fact, Eve only learns of the tree’s power after it leads her and Adam to cause the downfall of man. The knowledge gained from Satan and the tree is powerful, but not enjoyable: trust in God is all-powerful and cannot be topped by the power of knowledge.

Would this book be considered in media res? I figured since it begins in the middle of Adam and Eve’s paradise, it might be considered so. Also, where is there an example of an epic simile? I would like to see one for reference.

PARADISE LOST: Group 2

Paradise lost.

I’d like to start out by saying that this book is very difficult to read. You had mentioned in class it was dense, and yes it is indeed dense.

That aside, I would like to focus on a passage found on page 807. Here we have a monologue spoken by the “Lost Archangel,” which of course must refer to the devil. In this monologue, beginning on line 242, the devil rants about being far away from God: that is that it is better for him and his demons to-do so. For he says in line 256 “Here at least we shall we shall be free….better to reign in Hell then serve in Heaven.” This is interesting to me because here the devil seems to be admitting that hell is a horrible place that even he doesn’t like, but because of his lust for power he would rather rule over horror than serve in happiness. There is another line that came earlier, I thought interesting; on line 254. It reads, “The mind is its own place, and in itself Can make a Heav’n out of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n.” This, to me, seems very analogous to the phrase, “life is what you make it,” which we here used quite frequently. It intrigued me though this was said by the devil, because it would that the devil represents falsehood and for him to say, “life is what you make it,” is Milton way of saying that this is a false belief, and that life is awful unless you serve God. I could be wrong it almost seems as if the devil is in a state of denial. He knows he is in a horrible place, but then decides that is and a good thing and better to be here in hell than serving God.

1. Does anyone agree with me about line 254, or do you think Milton was trying to say something else? Perhaps he held this philosophy that he mind is its own place.

2. In the gloss it said that Beelzebub translated to “Lord of Flies,” but where does the name “Beelzebub” originates from? Is there a specific myth, or ancient religion?

Picturing Satan

Book One of Paradise Lost is set in hell just after Satan and other ex-angels have been cast away from Heaven. It is important to remember that these creatures lying broken in the darkest part of the world once enjoyed the glorious world of Heaven. They look to Satan as their leader and he seems to have a plan.

The best description of Satan after his fall from Heaven is given on page 815 of Book One.  Lines 599-601 give the description, “Darkened so, yet shone above them all th’ Archangel: but his face deep scars of thunder had intrenched…” I think that the deep scars of thunder appeared on Satan’s face after God cast him down from Heaven, because the Archangel was surely beautiful while he lived in Heaven. I imagine that God threw him down with lightening bolts and that’s how the scars appeared on Satan’s face.

Lines 602-603 proclaim, “Care sat on his faded cheek, but under brows of dauntless courage and considerate pride….” This is a really good description because it shows that Satan still had the drive to fight and cared about what would happen to him and the other outcasts. However, above his caring cheeks, Satan had a look of pure defiance and courage in his brows. This part hints that he is ready to lead a battle against God. Pride is also one of the seven deadly sins. The fact that Satan is prideful suggests that he is too confident in his ability to rise up and reclaim Heaven.

Satan is described as having a look of remorse in his eyes in line 605. Why would Satan be remorseful?

Why did the other ex-angels look to Satan as their leader?