The readings this week were quite enjoyable.

I read Archbishop William King's piece and it reminded me a lot of Swift's "A Modest Proposal". Although, King's writing is much more direct and matter-of-fact, whereas Swift's piece seemed much more sly and subversive. I guess I was reminded of Swift when King made generous use of numbers and calculations.

I got a chuckle out of the announcement from the London Gazette, appearing on page 334 in our text. Defoe is painted as such a scoundrel in this text. What really got me were the words used to describe him: "a Wig, a hooked nose, a sharp grin, grey eyes and a large mould near his mouth". He sounds like the snickering villain from one of those old Spiderman cartoons. :)

I had read "A Modest Proposal" before, and I enjoyed reading it again. I find that this is such a clever, biting commentary. I recall the first time I read it how shocked I was when he first mentions the idea of consuming the children. I can only imagine how readers reacted back then! Swift treats these poor children as bodies, not people, thus underlining the all ready existing lack of humanity in their situation. I always loved that line "I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children".

I had also read "The Lady's Dressing Room" before. The part involving towels and handkerchiefs never ceases to make me feel a bit queasy. At the end I felt like this was a very interesting observation of outward appearances, and how a carefully constructed outward facade can hide the ugly, rotten truth underneath. I love that last line "Such gaudy tulips raised from dung". Heh heh.

And speaking of last lines, the funniest one I've read in a long time can be found in "The Reasons that Induced Dr. Swift to Write a Poem Called The Lady's Dressing Room": "You'll furnish paper when I shite". I still can't help but chuckle over that one. We all know her opinion of his writing! :)