A 5 page essay that compares 2 works. Jonathan Swift penned his satirical masterpiece, “A Modest proposal in 1729. Roughly a century later, Gustave Flaubert wrote “A Simple Heart” (also known as “A Simple Soul”). While considerably time separates these two works, examination of the principal theme addressed by both Swift and Flaubert demonstrates that the attitude of the middle and upper class that was directed towards the common people had not appreciably changed over the course of the intervening century. The common theme is the way in which the European upper classes regarded the working class. Both Flaubert and Swift indicate that the upper classes tended to objectify those who labored on their behalf, as working people, the poor, and their servants were viewed as being less than fully human. No additional sources cited.
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considerably time separates these two works, examination of the principal theme addressed by both Swift and Flaubert demonstrates that the attitude of the middle and upper class that was directed
towards the common people had not appreciably changed over the course of the intervening century. The common theme is the way in which the European upper classes regarded the working
class. Both Flaubert and Swift indicate that the upper classes tended to objectify those who labored on their behalf, as working people, the poor, and their servants were viewed as
being less than fully human. This attitude is satirized in Swifts "A Modest Proposal," which carries this attitude to a grotesque, but quote logical, extreme. The full title of
Swifts essay indicates specifically to whom he proposes to apply his economic proposal. This title reads: "A Modest Proposal for preventing the children of poor people in Ireland from being
a burden on their parents or country, and for making beneficial to the publick" (Swift). His argument begins by summarizing the plight of the poor and how many poor families
have multiple children to support. During the course of this summation, he points out that a "boy or girl before twelve years old, is no saleable commodity," and even at
this age, will not yield their parents a sum sufficient to cover what has been invested in raising them thus far (Swift). He then makes his "proposal," which is that
a healthy baby of one year makes a "most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, based or boiled" (Swift). As this indicates, Swift objectifies the Irish poor,
discussing their children as if they were animals. He writes that while Irish babies offered as food will undoubtedly be expensive, it should nevertheless provide a "proper" for landlord, "who,