The Rotten Society Essay Example

Swift's writing reflects the consequences of an exploding population. The conflict between Catholics and Christians in Ireland brought additional difficulties for the impoverished. The treatment of peasants and beggars by Ireland's leadership exposes the flawed nature of its governance. Jonathan Swift's writings shed light on the issues faced by Ireland's population in the early 18th century, particularly during a period marked by conflict between Catholics and Protestants. This era also saw the passing of a law to enforce order.The consequences of the law were disastrous, instead of promoting harmony among the population. The people of Ireland were compelled to follow the stipulations of the law. During this period, the population of Ireland grew exponentially. As Swift described it, the number of poor individuals increased significantly. They filled the streets, begging for assistance. This situation arose from the conflict between Ireland and England. When England colonized Ireland, wealthy Christians from England mistreated Irish Catholics. The few Catholics from the northern regions fell into poverty and deprivation. Unable to pay rent to landlords, they were forced onto the streets. Swift depicted this scenario in a rhetorical manner, emphasizing his sympathy for the people of Ireland. The article highlights the severe problems faced by the Irish population. From a certain perspective, they are treated as expendable commodities, whose suffering benefits the rich. Wealthy Christians from England continue to disregard the plight of the Irish people. The rights of individuals have been trampled upon by these affluent Christians. Additionally, this conflict between Christians and Catholics contradicts biblical teachings and underscores the lack of faith among different churches. Political and religious leaders showed no concern for the impoverished generation at

that time. The absence of economic empowerment has contributed to the challenging circumstances faced by the population. These problems included significant difficulties in managing the country of Ireland.Jonathan Swift depicts the legislation implemented by English rule in Ireland as merciless and lacking any understanding of the Catholic faith. England's population experienced a higher rate of growth compared to that of Ireland. In his work "A Modest Proposal," Swift portrays the laws as unbearable even for non-residents. His mathematical statistics suggest that the government finds the resulting figures easily manageable. The food problem had a profound impact on society, with crop diseases devastating Ireland's main food source. Potato farms failed to produce any crops during this period, which became intolerable for the population. While Christian English citizens occupied all the jobs, the Catholic faithful remained unemployed. The able-bodied individuals sought opportunities in the diaspora for better prospects. Jonathan Swift's statistics appear accurate and reasonable, reflecting his sympathetic writing. Unfortunately, there are no records providing an exact population count for early 1800s Ireland, contradicting the figures recorded in the Office of Central Statistics in later years, around 1900. Consequently, these numbers cannot be relied upon and are as ironic as using human skin to create gloves. Although some unrecorded births may exist, the approximate data greatly deviate from expectations.According to Swift's writing, the number of people should have been sufficient to win the war against England. What stands out in Swift's writing are the solutions presented. The concept of using human bodies as meals for the powerful and wealthy is questioned. The idea of selling a child for the sake of the country's economy and to provide

for adults is unheard of. In his writing, Swift proposes the sale of infants to affluent Christians in another part of England to generate foreign currency. He also highlights the importance of primarily selling female children to prevent them from reproducing. This is seen as a solution to address the issue of overpopulation. The tone of the writing evokes sadness and disbelief, as it describes the unthinkable act of selling a living child to meet their demise at the hands of a butcher. The topic of morality is addressed by advocating for marriages. Swift suggests that men should have multiple wives to increase the number of children being born. This proposal aims to persuade that population growth cannot occur solely through marriage. The presence of beggars on the streets is thought to be a result of children being born out of wedlock. This serves as evidence that children from intact families with both parents were well taken care of by hardworking individuals. The streets are depicted as populated with wealthy individuals in Ireland. Therefore, although someone heard the cries of the people, they refused to offer assistance.The writing of Jonathan Swift is a petition to the government and authority in England, depicting the desperate nature of the population. Despite previous unsuccessful methods of conveying the message to the ruling class, Swift's writings took on a tone of reproach. This method of writing evokes a sense of unease and concern in contemporary readers. When the people of England read it during its initial circulation, they understood its objective and accepted the work as long as it offered a solution to their plight. The reader's interpretation would

possess a poetic quality and would also recognize certain hints indicating that it is a work of fiction. These clues allow the reader to infer the magnitude of the problems that motivated Swift to adopt such a writing style. In conclusion, presenting the petition to the English authority was well-deserved. The work holds significant meaning and remains relevant in today's society. To overcome a challenging obstacle, one must employ a tool stronger than the obstacle itself.