"A Modest Proposal"

Paper Summary:

This paper shows the way in which Swift uses metaphor and satire to put across his point that charged England with acting with outrageous indifference to the plight of impoverished Irish Catholics. He proposes that Irish mothers have babies and sell them to their English lords as delicacies.

From the Paper:

"During the time when this essay was written, Ireland was experiencing a devastating famine. Hardship and starvation were common because of famine, poor employment opportunities, and the fact that Catholics were oppressed by Protestant English acting as overlords. Swift was distressed to see the indifference those in power held toward this situation. The belief of the day was that the poor got what they deserved and could elevate themselves to a better position if they wanted to, a view that later evolved into "social Darwinism.""

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