A not so Modest Proposal

 “Sell your child’s flesh before it rots”, a proposal of uncommon modesty that sums up the deplorable condition of 21st century corporate laborer. Implying that humanity is back in the state of nature, as state has been failed by the ones on the thrones, Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” holds an uncanny relevance with the neoliberal world. Being a subtle satire on the exploitation of the lower class and their inevitable social death, this piece glorifies the human vices along with grotesque imagery. Along with critiquing institutionalized injustice and colonialism, he depicts the deploring moral standards existing social hierarchies as well.

As Swift delves into the imageries and details of the cannibalism and its benefits to the capitalist market or the elites, he slightly hints at the systemic problems of capitalism as well. Disguised in the shades of irony, he paints a vicious cycle of suffering for the subalterns. He equates the intensity of grief attached with selling the flesh of one’s own children with the trauma of watching them starve to death. Life is meaningless for the people who are deprived of the ‘canon humanness’. Hence, even after proposing a viable remedy for the lower class, there are yet certain systemic and indigenized market problems that hinder their way towards a better life (or perhaps just enjoying a repast?). In simpler words, what Swift means is that “Life? Nah, they’re good”, even after doing the unimaginable.

In modern context, his concepts depict how economic liberalization serves as a euphemism for widespread exploitation. Taking away the agency of the state, prioritizing corporate interests over social welfare, dehumanization; rather than doing any good, it is deteriorating the human morality, perpetuating neo-colonial oppression.

In a nutshell, one might as well not read this piece for bliss, but just to project the luxury of judgement.