Analysis of surprise endings in selected readings

¶ … Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" is quite an unusual work of literature, and one which certainly has a surprise ending. The only allusions to the wild solution that the author will offer to the very real problem plaguing the streets of Ireland -- that of the unfortunate beggar children and their mothers of Irish distinction -- is the fact that it is quite obvious that this essay is a satire. All satires create humor around human folly; that which is made laughable time and again throughout this narrative is the lack of concern on the part of the English for the plight of the Irish. It is due to this lack of concern that Swift quite facetiously, and more than a little bit sarcastically, advocates eating the misfortunate children, which is the surprise ending of this essay -- as well as the fact that the author, after advocating this stance, does not plant to participate in promoting the eating of children nor contribute to doing so with his own children. What is interesting about this particular solution is that it is actually a literal interpretation of what is figuratively happening to poor people in the United Kingdom (which were mostly Irish, but others as well) and to poor people everywhere. One can say that the rich are consuming or swallowing the poor; Swift himself mentions this fact when he states that eating children will be considered "proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents" (Swift, 1729). This play on words in which Swift takes figurative language and literally represents it in his advocating eating children is the principle point of humor in this essay, and the crux of the satire within it.

There were a number of clues that lead the discerning reader to the turning point in this document in which Swift unveils his plan of eating children and selling others so that they can be eaten. The entire document is rife with satire. The title of this work, with Swift describing his proposal as "modest" is certainly sarcastic; similarly, his description of many of the different aspects of children at various ages (such as his assertion that children cannot "pick up a livelihood by stealing" (Swift, 1729) until they are six is also sarcastic, and somewhat humorous. In general, the tongue-in-cheek humor that characterizes this work leads the reader to suspect that the author is going to have a surprise ending. Nonetheless, the turning point in this piece is when Swift states that "a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked or boiled…" (Swift, 1729). The preceding quotation is the point in the essay in which Swift reveals the fact that he is advocating the eating of children. This assertion certainly leads to his conclusion in which he provides numerous reasons for adopting this practice. The variety of ways that the author describes preparing children, and the other superlatives he associates with this practice (such as the fact that eating children is healthy), enables the reader to see that he is making these statements sarcastically and satirically. At this point on, the document actually becomes fairly enjoyable as the reader is treated to all of Swift's considerable talent of entertaining him or her with his humorous diction regarding the boons and detriments of eating children.

The reader cannot doubt Swift's convictions about any of the assertions he makes about the selling, cooking and eating of children -- but only if he or she is aware that this article is satirical. As previously mentioned, there are a number of clues that allude to the fact that this work functions as a satire. Still, Swift's validity in his surprise ending is virtually unquestionable for some fairly salient reasons. Chief among these is that he gives a logical appeal that -- while on the one hand is completely absurd since it pertains to cannibalism -- is also quite cogent due to the level of conviction and sheer number of points he has to buttress his overall theme. For example, he states that selling children will be one way in which poor people can attain monetary resources. And, although doing so is profane, vulgar, and exceedingly immoral, from a logical point-of-view it actually makes sense. Thus, although the reader knows that Swift is simply unveiling the full range of his witty satire, on a fundamental, literal level, his proposal makes sense and can help to address many of the problems plaguing Ireland and its poor. It would also create some heinous crimes, of course. Nonetheless, is would rectify many of the problems of these poor people who could choose to function as breeders and make money that way. In this respect, then, Swift deserves superlative commendations for making the ridiculous plausible, and seeming very convincing in the process.