A Modest Proposal Rhetorical Analysis

A significant span of life in 18th century Ireland has been marred by poverty and famine. Abysmal numbers of families, destitute of basic necessities, are struggling to provide for themselves- much less their fellow countrymen. What results is a cycle of misery that has snowballed to a desperate level. Like his contemporaries, the speaker- presumably the author- of “A Modest Proposal” has formulated a plan to reverse the suffering; uniquely, the speaker employs satire to outline the causes of the poverty, the effect on the people, and his thoughts on how to alleviate the situation.

In the order of logic, the speaker had to recognize the causes of the recession. The speaker attributes part of the problem to the vast number of children being born, primarily to already poor parents. When the speaker states “…it is of a much greater extent,…the whole number of infants…are born of parents in effect as little able to support them as those who demand our charity in the streets,” he criticizes impoverished couples for having babies that they can’t

properly provide for; ironically, people are fostering children to care for, but they can’t even help the misfortunate souls already on this earth. In a tidbit of humor, the speaker says that “whoever could…make these children…useful members of the commonwealth, would deserve…his statue set up for a preserver of the nation;” the speaker believes that finding useful work for young children will reduce the “additional grievance” of the young kids depending so heavily on their families. The speaker continues, “…instead of being a charge upon their parents...they shall on the contrary contribute to the feeding, and…the clothing, of many thousands,” explaining how this plan will promote the general welfare of all the people.
The ferocious famine and poverty has already had a profound effect on the livelihood of the Irish people and their families. The speaker describes the situation as “melancholy” in the opening paragraph, relaying the images of “the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children;” though this depiction appears a slight exaggeration, it speaks to the degree of desperation that the people are experiencing. In ridicule of the depth of poverty, the speaker expresses that the mothers, instead of working, “employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants,” and the children “…turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear country...,” insinuating that the problem appears endless and insurmountable.
Towards the end of the passage, the speaker presents his idea on how to effectively end the overall poverty by providing for young children when they surpass one year of age.

The speaker asserts, “…it is exactly at one year old that I propose to provide for them in such a manner,” as previously mentioned, “…[to] contribute to the feeding, and…clothing of many thousands.” Returning to his satirical mindset, the author interjects that his method “…will prevent those voluntary abortions.” The speaker feels so strongly against that “horrid practice…would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhuman…,” he believes it is a “great advantage” to eliminate abortion as an option. Nevertheless, the speaker admits that providing for the necessary population of children is “utterly impossible” and that they may have to resort to stealing when they become six years old; this shows his uncertainty and the dire nature of the

poverty.
At this moment in time, an ominous, gloomy future awaits the people of Ireland. A substantial portion of the population, without any logical or attainable course of action, is forced to beg, steal, or flee the country just to survive. Naturally, plenty of people- including the speaker- are trying to contain and solve the problem, but there just isn’t a clear-cut solution. The dilemma brought along by the poverty is an issue that will take several years and thorough efforts to resolve.