DRAFF is good enough for swine

Insights

Matching Quality to Worth

The proverb asserts that coarse or inferior things are fitting for people who are perceived as unrefined, vulgar, or undeserving of better. It's a statement about matching quality to the perceived worth of the recipient.

Expression of Contempt

It is often used to express disdain or contempt, dismissing an individual or group as having low standards or base appetites, thereby justifying giving them something of poor quality.

Reinforcement of Hierarchy

The saying can serve as a justification for social stratification, implying that certain people are naturally suited for a lower station or less refined experiences in life.

Agricultural and Social Hierarchy

Rooted in an agrarian society, the proverb reflects a world where waste products like 'draff' (brewery residue) had a clear, lowly purpose. It underscores a social order where providing inferior things to those deemed 'lesser' was considered natural and appropriate.

Psychology of Contempt

The proverb serves as a powerful psychological tool for justifying contempt or prejudice. By framing certain individuals as 'swine', it rationalizes offering them inferior treatment, ideas, or goods, thus reinforcing a sense of one's own superiority.

Cultural and Literary Parallels

This saying resonates with the classical and biblical admonition against 'casting pearls before swine', which warns against offering valuable things to those incapable of appreciating them. The proverb, however, takes a step further by specifying what *is* appropriate for the 'swine'.

Commentary on Choice

The 1721 quotation by Kelly reveals a specific social use: as a retort to those who voluntarily choose something of lower quality. In this context, it is less an initial judgment and more a confirmation of the person's own expressed taste or standards.

Rhetorical Devices

Metaphor

The proverb functions as a powerful metaphor where 'draff' represents anything inferior or worthless, and 'swine' represents people who are considered coarse or contemptible.

Declarative Tone

The proverb's power lies in its blunt, declarative tone. It is stated as a simple, undeniable fact, which makes it a potent and cutting form of judgment.

Cacophony

The guttural 'dr' and 'g' sounds, combined with the hissing 's' of 'swine', create a sound pattern that aurally reinforces the coarse and dismissive nature of the statement.