In this satirical essay, Jonathan Swift mocks the attitude that people, especially the rich, have towards the lower class. The essay also touches on the relations between the British and the Irish, and the poor approach the British took in dealing with Irish. This essay brings to light some of the issues in the 18th century, and does so in a way that grabs your attention, by satirizing the solution to the British involvement. 

The poverty-stricken Irish are struggling, and spending all their time to find a solution to the food shortage. Jonathan Swift immediately provides a solution for this, and that solution is raising the Irish kids as food for the wealthy citizens. Of course this seems outlandish, especially since he suggests that only 100,000 kids should be set-aside for dinner. Of course this would mean less people in Ireland and therefore more of a risk that the British has an easier way of controlling Ireland with less subjects. The reason for these suggestions is because the adults are too poor to even feed themselves let alone their children, so it would ultimately end in death for both parties; on the other hand if you sell 100,000 children away as food the Irish are at least salvaging some of their people, which is better than none. This proposal comes from the reality during the 18th century in Ireland. There was widespread famine, and poverty in Ireland. England is really in control of Ireland but feels very little responsibility to combat this issue. According to Swift, if you were to walk through the streets of Ireland, you would experience hundreds of encounters with child beggars. The reason for his proposal is due to his understanding that most kids will eventually experience a downfall and will be come thieves and beggars. 

Of course the reason for the food shortage and child beggars, was because of a terrible famine that struck Ireland in the 18th century that was made even worse by the density of the people and the extremely cold weather. Very soon after A Modest Proposal was released, the “Great Frost” of 1741 hit Ireland with the worst weather conditions it had ever experienced. The famine experienced during the “Great Frost” was estimated to have killed 38% of people during the of the 1740 population in the kingdom of Ireland. With famine many jobs are sacrificed because there are not as many jobs available. Farmers aren’t needed for growing and workers aren’t needed for processing the crops. Since employment is sparse, not only kids but also parents are losing jobs leaving them unable to provide for their families. Swift also argues that since the elderly are so sickly, and are only going to live a brief time longer, they should be spared and they should rather focus on the kids. Swift says when you eat the kids; you reduce the number of “paptists,” or Catholics who are known for having big families. He goes as far the name the Catholics as the enemy of the nation. For those large families to make Swift happy, they could sell of their kids and make more money and become more valuable member of society since they won’t be in debt and they can supplement the economy. He is arguing that as a whole it will help everybody in the nation and improve the lifestyle for not only the wealthy classes but also the poor who are living in such awful conditions.

Swift was part of this poor class, and he experienced the awful conditions that were apparent in 18th century Ireland. Although he was technically Irish, he identified himself more as an English citizen. He actually would have preferred to be in England because he assumes he wouldn’t have lived in the same poor conditions. He did support a lot of Irish causes but was often ambivalent about that. Swift eventually became engaged in Irish politics and valued his position. This spurred his writing about the political injustices, and his satirical works were recognizable to the people. It was in England’s best interest to keep the things in Ireland the way they were because a weak Ireland, posed no threat to overtaking the English rule. Swift was also enraged that Ireland was so passive in their approach to their relationship with the English. He saw them as incapable of making an effort to change it. The reason for Swift’s satire is in order to gain enough attention to the ability to the Irish people have to change their own fate. The proposal is so outrageous because it is meant to grab attention and force people to think about the issues. Swift was still Irish at heart and wanted them to realize their potential for success. He maintains that, “People are the riches of a nation.” He understands that the Irish have a lot of value, but the people do not take advantage of their opportunities. 

During this time period, in Ireland, not a lot was going right for the people. They were under the rule of the English and they were going to be kept there for a long time. Jonathan Swift lived through all of this and understood the issues. The reason for the piece was in context with the time period. It was a satirical piece written to make changes in their society. It worked. 
