Question

Swift enumerated six advantages for his proposal.

Answer 1

Answer:

6. The Roman Catholic population will be reduced.

1. The tenants will have some cash to pay rents with.

3. Ireland will have more cash (and a new food) to use for itself.

5. Families will not have the expense of caring for children after the age of one.

4. Tavern owners' business will increase with more variety of food to serve.

2. More marriages, healthier children, and better treatment of wives by husbands will be encouraged.

Explanation:

Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal is a pamphlet that criticizes the British crown and how it treats the Irish people. This is a satire on the condition of the Irish and Swift's take on how it can solve the poverty of his people.

According to Swift, there are certain advantages of his proposal of making children's meat as a substitute for normal meat. He proposes that if the young children of poor people and beggars are made as meat for consumption, there will be several societal issues that will be improved. And in accordance to their advantages, Swift lists them as follows-

First, it would greatly lessen the number of Papists, with whom we are yearly overrun, . . . hoping to take their advantage by the absence of so many good Protestants, who have chosen rather to leave their country, than stay at home and pay tithes against their conscience to an episcopal curate. (6)

Secondly, The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by law may be made liable to a distress, and help to pay their landlord’s rent, . . . (1)  

Thirdly, Whereas the maintainance of a hundred thousand children, from two years old, and upwards, cannot be computed at less than ten shillings a piece per annum, the nation’s stock will be thereby encreased fifty thousand pounds per annum, besides the profit of a new dish, introduced to the tables of all gentlemen of fortune in the kingdom, who have any refinement in taste. And the money will circulate among our selves, the goods being entirely of our own growth and manufacture. (3)

Fourthly, The constant breeders, besides the gain of eight shillings sterling per annum by the sale of their children, will be rid of the charge of maintaining them after the first year. (5)  

Fifthly, This food would likewise bring great custom to taverns, where the vintners will certainly be so prudent as to procure the best receipts for dressing it to perfection; and consequently have their houses frequented by all the fine gentlemen, who justly value themselves upon their knowledge in good eating; and a skilful cook, who understands how to oblige his guests, will contrive to make it as expensive as they please. (4)  

Sixthly, This would be a great inducement to marriage, which all wise nations have either encouraged by rewards, or enforced by laws and penalties. It would encrease the care and tenderness of mothers towards their children, when they were sure of a settlement for life to the poor babes, provided in some sort by the publick, to their annual profit instead of expence. (2)