modest Proposal
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"A Modest Proposal" Essay
In Ireland, the summer of 1729 blistered with suffering from the potato famine. It was amidst this crisis that Jonathan Swift wrote: "A Modest Proposal;" his solution to save the people from malnutrition, misfortune, and death. In his proposal, Swift argues that something must be done to alleviate the situation in Ireland. His solution, a satire, calls for the feeding of poverty-stricken children to the upper class people of England.
Swift's stylistic approach in addressing this issue was to use satire to emphasize the desperation of the situation. While his actual suggestions are not realistic, they demonstrate the radical nature that would be required of a solution. Swift expresses concern that family units are unable survive given the economic stress. Mothers in particular, Swift says, "employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants," because there are no job availabilities. Swift discusses, in great detail, cannibalism - a practice that violates the essence of morality and humanity. However, he cleverly juxtaposes this practice against "voluntary abortions" and "women murdering their bastard children," practices that in some lights are as evil...