A Modest Proposal And Let Them Eat Dog Rhetorical Analysis

“A Modest Proposal” and “Let Them Eat Dog” have a common argument that we are dealing with over population of humans and animals. Swift uses satire to make us think that he really wants us to eat babies. Foer tells us of people eating animals were not accustomed to. This can put an economical strain on everyone if we don’t use our resources wisely. Both of these articles may be elusive for some to read. Both papers touch on the topics of eating animals, economic issues, and culture. “Let Them Eat Dog” talks about how in many countries it is completely normal to eat the family pet. I personally could not eat my pet. Foer quotes George Orwell saying “all animals are equal but some are more equal than others”(2). In my opinion this means

In the time frame that Swifts’ A Modest Proposal was written Ireland was going through political, economic, and religious struggles. In 1729 England had contrived, with the help of Irish venality, to wreck Ireland’s merchant marine, agriculture, and wool industry. Prostitutes in Swift’s paper are having kids like senseless people, but yet they can’t afford to feed them. Jonathan Swift proposes that his people should sell the babies and eat them. He thinks this would help solve the problem of over population. Swift tried to give his people pamphlets on how to fix the problem that was plaguing their country, but they ignored them. Swift says “These mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants.”(1) Swift proposes that the mothers sell the babies for 8 shillings; the rich would find the child to be a delicacy and the extra money would go to the landlord. So everyone would benefit from this proposal. He does this as a way of making his people aware of what is going on in their

Foer suggests eating Fido. He even gives us a recipe of stewed dog wedding style. Swift does the same with babies in Ireland. He says that his people should sell the babies and eat them. Swift tells how that whether stewed roasted or baked an infant would make a delicious dish. Swift wants his people to realize that they have a problem with over population in Ireland. He gives suggestions for them so that they don’t become a burden to society and their parents. Foer tells how the “French eat their horses, Spanish eat their cows, and Indians eat their dogs.”(1) So maybe we should imagine Mr. Ed on our dinner plate. Foer does this to also tell us of how we are becoming over crowded with