The Heavy Use of Satire in A Modest Proposal and The Lady’s Dressing Room by Jonathan Swift

Satire is wonderful tool for any writer to have under his or her literary tool belt. Often times, if one were to look up an example of satire a piece of text by Jonathan Swift will show up. Jonathan Swift is a writer who is well known for his works of satire. Two of his satirical works include "A Modest Proposal" and "The Lady's Dressing Room". There is a heavy sense of satire in both of these works, and Swift is able to make his points about the way society is set quite clearly.

During the time period in which "A Modest Proposal" was written the Irish were looked down upon by the English. The men were seen as drunkards and the women as poor whores who dragged along numerous children with them to beg. These numerous children, Swift claims, give no help and take up more resources than they are able to help produce. He is assured this "by our merchants, that a boy or a girl before twelve years old, is no saleable commodity, and even when they come to this age, they will not yield above three pounds, or three pounds and half a crown at most" (A Modest Proposal).

This demonstrates that the children do not help support the already suffering economy of the Irish. This is why Swift suggests that for the year of birth, babies are able to survive and be supported by just the breast milk of their mother. By being well fed by their mothers they should be plump and fat which will help serve its new purpose, in fact there should be plenty of flesh on a one year old child. Swift calculated that "a child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish" by dividing up parts, a child will feed a family for quite a while (A Modest Proposal).

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All this is suggested as a way to prevent children from suffering in the streets with their begging mothers. Not only will it save children from begging and stealing on the streets, but this solution will also provide another option for women who would normally choose to abort their children. Along with the abortions, there are women who murder their already born children due to the lack of a father and the difficulties they will have. It speaks to the politicians and opens their eyes to the misfortunes of the children out in the streets.

The extremities that Swift proposes ensures that his essay will not be brushes aside, if one were to hear about it in the streets it would intrigue them and they would go to inform themselves by reading his proposal. Not only does he speak about the solution of the overpopulation of the Irish, but he also speaks of way to ensure everyone is financially happy with this new business set up.

After speaking of all the possibilities that are in store for the new type of meat that will be available, including different methods and cooking styles to bring out the taste, Swift moves on the how this will improve the economic and financial needs of the Irish people. He mentions the price and how "ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child" would yield the mother a profit of eight shillings since maintaining herself while breastfeeding the baby would cost her about two shilling, including her clothes (A Modest Proposal). Not only is the flesh of the baby put to good use, but the skin can also be used to produce gloves and boots for people as well. For ten shillings there is a lot of use available from a baby of a year old.

The reason Swift explains that this would only be profitable with young babies is because children who are not wanted by their parents who are between the ages of twelve and fourteen are not suitable for consumption. Swift mentions that an "American acquaintance assured me [him] from frequent experience, that their [boys] flesh was generally tough and lean" which would not be appealing to buyers who would prefer tender and fat meat (A Modest Proposal).

However, it would not be profitable to spend money to fatten them up since at that age the boys would require an abundance of food to reach the desired body appearance. Girls on the other hand are not appealing due to the fact that in time, they themselves will become breeders and provide this delicacy to those who crave it. The people who Swift believes should get priority choice on the babies are the landlords since "they have already devoured most of the parents" and it is only fitting that they too are able to devour the babies as well (A Modest Proposal). By continuing this satirical tone in his this essay, Swift is able to show the English men that there is not only an overpopulation that needs to be dealt with, but also the financial needs of the Irish.

The landlords are mistreating their tenants to the point of it being considering devouring. Due to the devourment of the parents earnings increases the difficulties of those who are attempting to take care and provide for their children. Satire is Swift's method of pointing out that there is a problem, while allowing the rest of England to think of and consider solutions to the problem at hand.

Alongside with the over population and the poverty with the Irish, there are other issues that Swift is able to shed light on. One issue which Swift brushes on lightly is the issue of the elder population. By saying few words on it he is conveying that there is little to no assistance for them. In his satirical tone he states that "they are every day dying, and rotting, by cold and famine, and filth, and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected" which in itself is solving their problem with old people (A Modest Proposal).

The older population is being subjected to such harsh treatment that for them to be dying of things like being cold and hungry it is not uncommon. When this is brought to the attention of the people Swift hopes that by demonstrating the lack of help the elders receive will motivate people to act upon it. Another issue that Swift acknowledges is domestic violence. He states with women as breeders and a method of income, men will value them more. Due to being of higher value due to carrying a baby men will think twice before attempting to "beat or kick them [pregnant partners] (as is too frequent a practice) for fear of a miscarriage" which demonstrates the treatment of women (A Modest Proposal).

This demonstrates Swift's ability to point out and highlight several of societies imperfections and issues with a single essay. There is more than the over population being brought up in Swift's "A Modest Proposal" and there a clear disgust in the mistreatment of the Irish.

Another text where Swift uses Satire to bring attention to the social unfairness is a poem by the title "The Lady's Dressing Room. This poems deals with what Strephon sees when he sneaks into the lady's dressing room to spy on his lover Celia. Strephon shares the smells and sights with the reader, which are not pleasant at all. At first, before he enters the room he compliments Celia, calling her a goddess. This idea of a goddess however is quickly replaced as he finds repulsive items in her room. Quickly upon looking a "dirty Smock appear'd, Beneath the Arm-pits well besmear'd" which is the garment that Celia would wear against her flesh (The Lady's Dressing Room).

The image of it being colored and smeared with something amongst the underarm area brings a highly repulsive image to mind. Not only is her body made unappealing, but there are other items that lower the image of Celia. Amongst the items in the room Strephon finds "various Combs for various Uses, Fill'd up with Dirt so closely fixt" which then gives the image of filthy and unkempt hair (The Lady's Dressing Room). The combs are described to be filled with unsanitary things such as sweat, dandruff, powder, lead, and pieces of hair. This is not an appealing sight to Strephon or the reader.

Throughout Strephon's adventure in the lady's dressing room he finds several other disturbing sights and smells that ruin the elegant and goddess like appearance of Celia that he first had. Strephon then comments on “how damnably the Men lie, In calling Celia sweet and cleanly" after he sees for himself that Celia is not sweet smelling or clean in private (The Lady's Dressing Room). He accuses the other men of being liars who all spread false compliments about her. The satirical tone then shows that Strephon is quite foolish in believing that Celia's appearance is natural. He is shown quite harshly that women are just as human as men and they too have bodily functions and smells in which are not attractive.

No longer is Strephon able to look at women the same way. After seeing the atrocious sights in Celia's room he now knows the truth behind the appearance of all the other women. This itself speaks about the views society had of women. They were expected to be these graceful, beautiful, sweet smelling creatures. Yet smelling bad, the mess from the makeup and powders, and performing human functions such as excrement were seen and treated as very unlady like. Swift inserts himself into this poem when he says "He soon would learn to think like me, And bless his ravisht Sight to see Such Order from Confusion sprung, Such gaudy Tulips rais'd from Dung" in which he critiques not only Strephon, but all of society (The Lady's Dressing Room).

For society to believe that women are these images of beauty beneath the makeup and clothes is ridiculous, and Swift is telling society so. He is defending the women who might have been seen as unladylike for their human behavior, but also saying that despite all these disgusting and nasty things that women do, but they are still beings to love. Swift tells his readers that they should appreciate all that women do to appear beautiful. Women put in plenty time and effort to appear pleasant and attractive for the rest of society. This is no excuse to them attack them with insults the minute their masks come off.

In both his works Swift is able to use satire effectively to show society the different issues that need to be dealt with. In the essay "A Modest Proposal" Swift is able to bring attention to many issues in which the lives of people are needing much improvement. He makes his readers realize that the only thing more inhumane than eating the Irish babies is doing nothing and allowing their suffering to continue.

In the poem "The Lady's Dressing Room" the use of satire is the sword in which women are defended with. He backs them up in which it is unfair of men to judge them once their makeup and fancy clothing is taken off. He makes the readers feel that they have to do something for a social change because they realize that they are part of the problem in society. From the poverty and overpopulation with the poor citizens of Ireland, to the narrow minded and self centered upper class of England; Swift is able to point out the flaws in society. Satire used by Jonathan Swift is a forceful eye opener for those who do not believe that there is anything wrong with their society.

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