FREE ESSAY ON A MODEST PROPOSAL

A MODEST PROPOSAL

Summary of A Modest Proposal
In A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift uses 
irony to draw attention to the poor condition that 
Ireland is in. Swift begins the story by describing 
the conditions of poverty and hunger that people are 
living in. He states the number of poor and hungry 
children. He then explains his plan to help the 
problem. Swift explains that eating children for a 
meal will significantly reduce the number of them 
living in poverty. He tells how every part of the 
child will be used to make things. He describes how 
butcher houses will be set up for the babies and how 
they will kill them. Swift tells the reader that his
plan is good because it is better for the babies to 
go to good use rather than rotting in the streets. 
Some advantages to this plan are a reduction in the
number of Catholics, it will provide a source of 
money for the poor, the nation's stock will rise, 
and it will let the breeder get rid of their child 
after one year. Swift points out things that are to
be considered. How do they plan to provide for 
100,000 useless mouths and backs? Also, how do they
plan to get out of debt. Lastly, he tell us that 
he is working to improve the public, advance 
trade, provide for infants, relieve the poor, and 
give pleasure to the rich.