Jonathan Swift A Modest Proposal Analysis

542 Words2 Pages

Ashleane Alabre
Professor Lamar
PHH 2063
28 January 2014
Summary of "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift
In A Modest Proposal, author Jonathan swift begins by discussing the dire poverty that is rampant in Ireland due to England’s exploitation, and the terrible state of the social classes. Swift then proposes that the poor people of Ireland sell their babies as food to the rich to ease their economic troubles as well as to improve Ireland’s economy and standard of living. Swift says this because the women in Ireland continued to have babies, but were unable to provide for them. He states his proposal will make the babies “beneficial to the public” (Swift 2). Swift also, blames the politicians for Irelands grim living standards because of the lack of concern they presented in the decision making process to resolve the poor conditions.
In A modest proposal Jonathan swift shows readers his resentment towards the Roman Catholics, who are referred to as “papists” in the essay. This is illustrated when he says his proposal “will have one other collateral advantage, by lessening the numbe...

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