It is of great importance from the beginning that we take
A Modest Proposal for the satirical work that it is. His being
absurd in order to make a point.
One of his claims is that
this proposal will
"prevent voluntary abortions, and that horrid
practice of murdering ... bastard
children!"
He supports this
claim by giving hypothetical and numerical evidence. He calculates that "120,000
children of poor parents annually born" plague the society. These could "be reserved for
breed..." and "offered for sale to the persons of quality and fortune through the
kingdom."
He further gives evidence to the claim for
selling children that he has
"been assured by a very knowing American... that
a young healthy child well nursed at a year old [is] a most delicious, nourishing, and
wholesome food."
Thus, he
tries to imply that he has an expert source that would support his overall idea to eat
children.
He provides evidence of discussion with merchants
regarding the prices of what the different proportions of the child could yield for the
profit of the poor.
He also later cites a time in history
when after young persons had been put to death, their bodies were used for
profit.
Swift uses statistical, historical, and
authoritative types of evidence yet each of his arguments are weak and ill-founded in
reality.
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