一个温和建议.docVIP

一个温和建议 　　 导读 18世纪的爱尔兰处在英国的监控和盘剥之下，人民生活极度贫苦，连小孩也养不起，许多母亲便带着孩子流落街头，以乞讨为生。在这种背景下，乔纳森?斯威夫特（Jonathan Swift, 1667~1745）创作了讽刺短文《一个温和的建议》（A Modest Proposal），用反语法（irony）提出了一个“公平可行的建议”：建议母亲们把孩子养肥，在他们一岁的时候卖给富人作美味佳肴，皮也可以加工成手套和靴子，这样不仅可以使孩子免受未来的苦难也可以增加父母的收入。《一个温和的建议》用温和冷静的语言讽刺了英国政府对爱尔兰的压迫，文字“不温不火，绵里藏针”，颇能体现斯威夫特的讽刺风格。 　　 　　 When people walk through the great town of Dublin（都柏林） or travel in Ireland they will see the streets crowded with female beggars, followed by three, four or six children, all in rags, and asking every passerby for food or money. These mothers instead of being able to work for an honest living, are forced to employ all their time in begging to support their helpless children who, as they grow up, either become thieves due to lack of work, or leave their native country to fight for other nations. 　　 I think it is agreed by all people that this large number of children is a big problem for the country; and therefore whoever can find out a cheap and easy method of making these children useful members of Ireland, would deserve so well of the public, as to have his statue set up in the nation. As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon this important subject, I propose that instead of being a burden upon their parents, these children shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding, and clothing of many thousands. 　　 There are 120,000 children born of poor parents every year. The question therefore is how these children shall be raised and provided for？ Under the present situation, we can neither employ them in handicraft（手工艺）or agriculture since we neither build houses nor cultivate（耕作）land. Furthermore, they can seldom pick up a livelihood by stealing till they arrive at six years old. I shall now propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not cause the least objection. 　　 I have been assured by a very knowing（世故的）American in London that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious food, whether roasted, bake