It is hard to avoid the conclusion that this essay has
been very carefuly scripted and drafted precisely to delay the "unveiling" of this very
immodest "modest proposal." It is important therefore to ask what Swift does in the lead
up to the revelation of his plan. Swift is very careful to try and establish the voice
and tone of the essay to present himself as a caring, concerned and earnest individual
who sincerely wants to help alleviate the poverty and terrible famine in Ireland. The
reference to numbers and statistics likewise presents his voice as credible. Note an
example of how this works in practice:
I think it is agreed by all parties, that this
prodigious number of children, in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their
mothers, and frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the
kingdom, a very great additional grievance; and therefore whoever could find out a fair,
cheap, and easy method of making these children sound and useful members of the
commonwealth would deserve so well of the public, as to have his statue set up for a
preserver of the nation.
Note
how Swift is trying to show his reasonable nature by appealing to "all parties" and
identifying areas of commonality between them all. Having established himself as a
reasonable and even caring speaker, who is concerned for the plight of the poor, the
shock of reading his exact proposal is that much more exaggerated. Thus the proposal is
delayed to lull us into a false sense of security before shocking
us.
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