A Modest Proposal

A Modest Proposal/Jonathan Swift

A Modest Proposal is a truly gruesome and shocking proposition made to cure the problems that Ireland was facing during Swift’s time. During this time, Ireland had many social and economic problems and many were looking for ways to ease the misfortune suffered by the poor. Swift himself did not agree with many of the ways that others within the government were trying to handle the problem. Some parents had even resorted to selling their children to be able to feed themselves, as well as other children they had. A Modest Proposal was released anonymously as a pamphlet, and was widely circulated around Ireland to spur the government into action.

A Modest Proposal opens with a somewhat naïve social reformer describing the pitiful nature of the poor women and children that were often seen begging on the streets. He wants to turn these beggars and their children into functional members of society and put them to good use. Instead of suggesting that there be job creation or a wider economic reform, he insinuates that these children be turned into livestock and consumed once they are at least one year of age. The writer then defends his position by documenting the calculation of cost for feeding and supporting these children until they can be sold as subsistence. He then goes on to state that he has been assured by others that the meat of children is delicious, and he denotes how much money he calculates will be brought in to the Commonwealth for the sale of the children. He also figures in saving some of the children for the breeding of more children. The writer appeals to his audience with what he sees as advantages to his proposal. He figures that the Commonwealth will bring in more money through pork and beef exports, and that the food would bring more patrons to taverns. He does not seem to think that this proposal is outrageous or offensive, and challenges others to come up with another proposition that is more cost-effective. He professes to have given this proposal a large amount of thought and has worked many years and cannot come up with