Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift

In Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”, he imposes that the impoverished and “unmaintained”(6) children of Ireland are “impossible to provide for”(6) and need to “be made useful members of the commonwealth”(2). He aims to influence readers by using subjective, convoluted language in order to establish his proposal that will “solve” the dystopia throughout the Kingdom.

The presence of commerce in Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” is anything but modest, but nonetheless it is there and it does take a certain side on finding a solution for society’s main problems at that specific time. In the early 1700’s, conditions in Ireland slowly began to worsen, hence his satirical, scathing response to the lack of solving the ever so present economic crisis the people of Ireland were experiencing. As he mentions in his proposal, poor children, predominantly Catholic, are seen all across the country, and in his point of view they are seen as burdens to their families and not so much of good use to the commonwealth.

As the evidence shows, “A Modest Proposal” outlines a fool-proof plan of easing the suffering of Ireland’s youth ,in Swifts time, and the youth of today alike. Swift was neither greedy nor selfish. He only understood what needed to be done and figured this was the best way to get the publics attention. The only way to improve the state of our society is through the betterment, care, and love of all children. They must grow up knowing that they are believed in and that they have worth. By no means should we ever give up our hope in

Johnathan Swift the author of The Modest Proposal went and got a college education. He writes in a direct and engaging approach for his proposal to save Ireland in the 1720s. Swift’s purpose is to solve many types of dilemmas in Ireland during his time. He adopts a mystifying tone in order to seize his Irish government.

The year is 1729. Life in Dublin, Ireland consists of less living and more suffering. Over population and poverty become every family's newest members. Catholics and Protestants are in constant struggle, as their two hundred year battle continues in the land of green. One man filled with bitterness takes on the task of slapping fellow countrymen in the face with reality. One man named Jonathan Swift provides the hand. Jonathan Swift writes "A Modest Proposal" with "no other motive than the public good of my country." He writes criticism upon the countrymen of Ireland, upon the masses. With his proposal, Swift's "intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the children of professed beggars," because he wants to

“A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift takes place in Dublin Ireland in the 18th century. The narrator is a very ironic character. His “modest” proposal is anything but modest. This short story takes place during a famine. Since there was a famine, Swift proposes the idea that people sell their one year old children to the rich so they would not be a burden to their family.

In A Modest Proposal, by Jonathan Swift he discusses a solution to Poverty in Ireland during the 18th century. Swift’s bizarre, yet well thought out plan for helping families of Ireland, who were in poverty and desperately in the need of money, was fattening children and selling them to the wealthier landowners. Swift even went about to write a pamphlet telling the parents just how they could fatten their babies and and the perfect age and weight to do so. One of Swift’s friends goes about to give those parents some helpful/ tasty that the kids can be cooked before eaten. This does not only financially support Ireland, but it also is improves the social, political, and economic problems. Swift didn’t see why anyone in Ireland would disagree with such a brilliant plan that could benefit them all in so many ways, except the children that will be eaten. Swift even goes on to say that by shrinking the population of kids it would just be less subjects to worry about ruling over. Swift’s idea on fattening kids to sell as food to the wealthier landowners of Ireland was one of the most brilliant solutions to solve all of the problems being brought about in Ireland.

A proposal is a proposal no matter what the content contains. Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”, is anything but modest. He is making an effort to receive the attention of the citizens of Ireland. During 1729, most people are ignoring the fact that their country is suffering economically. In order to receive their undivided attention, Swift proposes that every child be sold for feeding purposes. As I began to read Swift’s proposal, I thought to myself how it was such a horrid idea. How can one think of proposal that would cause harm to someone in their country? Once I completely read Swift’s satirical proposal, it became clear to me the objective of the story was to bring to light the amount of wrongdoing that was taking place in Ireland. I am capable of relating to Swift’s proposal through his remarks of how the citizens are of a lower standing, the wealthy contain the majority of power, and the strains of the economy.

In this statement he is estimating the amount of children in Ireland, and how many would be given up for consumption. He also includes an estimated price for the charge of nursing a poor child to be about two shillings and ten for the child after it has been plumped and sold. Swift follows by describing how many servings it would fulfill as well as how many people it could nourish. By presenting this information he makes the proposal seem possible, well thought out, and easily put into action.

Renowned author, Jonathan Swift, in a modest proposal, shares the answer to solving all of our economic troubles. He suggests that we fatten our infants for a year or so, making them nice and plump, then, sell them as livestock to the rich to devour as an exquisite cuisine. Now, I’m not sure how “modest” this proposal is, but I’m all for it! A human arm, fried with salt and pepper sprinkled on top is not the typical meal you will see at the dinner table in the average American household; although, it would be a nice way to spice it up a bit.

The oppression of the Irish people attacks all aspects of their daily lives and ultimately leads to many of their painful and unnecessary deaths. The English rulers oppressed their religion, industrial, and economy. However, the misery of the Irish peasant arose not only from foreign oppression, but also from also conditions at home (Rodden, 2009). For the Irish family famine, crime, and health were all issues that help enable English control (Conley, 1995). This mixture of misfortune was the inspiration that Dr. Jonathan Swift fed on when he wrote his eye-opening text ‘Modest

Myths of poor people and their relation to the rich shape societal paradigms about the importance of social class and dictate the acceptable treatment of the poor and rich alike. Swift’s A Modest Proposal satirically illuminates the myth of allowing the exploitation of the poor to satisfy the rich through his mock proposal to feed poor Irish children to the English gentry. In addition, his analysis of the futility of allowing a poor Irish child to continue growing past adolescence, in a society where the English landowners did nothing to alleviate the poverty of others, proves particularly compelling as evidence of the large fallacy holding up the myth.

Jonathan swift was a writer and a satirist who was born and raised in Dublin Ireland. Swift was not a healthy child in his early years and grew up without his father who died a couple of months before his birth. Since the death of her husband swift’s mother had been struggling to take care of him, and decide to hand him over to his uncle on his father side Godwin swift to ensure that her son would have a good upbringing.

In Jonathan Swift “A Modest Proposal” he satirizes Irish politicians, the maniacal ambition of the wealthy, English tyranny and the squalid living conditions Irish citizens were living in. Through the satirizing, Swift hides his inner feelings about the Age of Enlightenment and the exploitation of Ireland. Due to the suppression during the Restoration Period, Swift through his satirizing secretly advises for Ireland’s self-determination as it essential to prevent starvation and drastic situations like the one that he “modestly” proposes.

Jonathan Swift was born on November 30, 1667 in Ireland to English parents, Jonathan and Abigail. His father, Jonathan, died shortly after his birth, leaving his mother to raise him and his sister alone. In Ireland, Swift was dependent on a nanny for three years because his mother moved to England. The young man was educated because of the patronage of his Uncle, Godwin Swift. Godwin sent him to Kilkenny Grammar School at age six, which was one of the best primary schools in Ireland at the time. Although the transition from extreme poverty to a private school education was hard, he made it easier by becoming friends with William Congreve, a future poet. Godwin paid for Jonathan, at age fourteen, to attend Trinity College at Dublin where he completed his Bachelors Degree. Swift later completed his M. A. at Oxford in 1692. “In 1701 Swift was awarded a D. D. from Dublin University”, which is one notable award that Swift received during his career (Cody). Swift’s mother, in an effort to help Jonathan become successful, sent him to work as a secretary under Sir William Temple, an established essayist and graduate from Cambridge. Because Temple was a prominent parliamentary figure, Swift was exposed to a great deal of literature during this time period (1689-1699), which helped shape his books later on.