"A Modest Proposal"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how Jonathan Swift's "Modest Proposal" is a short story that offers a solution to the poverty and desperation than ran rampant throughout Ireland in the 1700s as a result of the conflict between the Irish and the English. It looks at how, in the story, Swift discusses the terrible economic conditions of the peasantry in Ireland and how British administrators viewed this poverty as a nuisance. It also shows how the lack of conviction of the English court to resolve the growing problem inspired Swift to write this satire, which is subtle in its attack of the ruling class.

Outline
About Jonathan Swift
Swift?s Proposal
Justifying the Proposal
About the Story
The Use of Irony and Satire
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"According to the narrator, eating the impoverished children would solve the problem of population among the Catholics. In addition, it would help the poor people get wealthier, since they would have valuable commodities to sell in exchange for shelter and luxuries. According to the narrator, - The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by law may be made liable to distress and help to pay their landlord's rent, their corn and cattle being already seized, and money a thing unknown (Swift, 1989).? The plan would also benefit the economy as a whole since less money would be spent on raising so many poor children."

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