Fiction is defined as “something invented by the imagination” (Mariam-Webster). The movie Mocking Jay is a fictional film that creates a world that few people could imagine being realistic. “A Modest Proposal”, although not traditionally classified as a fictional essay, could be cataloged as fictional because of its extreme and unrealistic suggestions. Fictional pieces are not real and credible works; however, they can be compared and prevalent to reality in their time. The essay “A Modest Proposal” takes a struggle from reality and responds with a fictional resolution. The Essay “Rockingham’s Eerie Echo’s of Ferguson” compares the fictional film Mocking Jay to reality including the shooting that occurred in Ferguson. Although fictionally, many times these pieces relate to reality whether it be their response to a situation or a similar plot to something occurring. 

“A Modest Proposal” is a response that should be taken sarcastically to real problem occurring in Ireland in the 1700’s. Swift wrote many essays promoting the Irish and their hope for independence from England. The English controlled land in Ireland and were only focused on money, not the well-being of the Irish. Swift wrote many successful essays including “Drapier’s Letters” which helped Ireland advance its causes against English control. In “A Modest Proposal” Swift was definitely trying to make a bold statement to the government showing the extent of poverty that Ireland was in at the time. Although Swift’s tone is serious in “The Modest Proposal” it cannot be taken seriously. He says intent is to call the attention of the government to the internal struggles of Ireland. In the last paragraph of the essay Swift states “I Profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the good of my country…”. Although he goes on to say that he does not have any children he can sell towards the cause, it is apparent that the reason of writing this is to promote the health of Ireland and attempt to make a statement about the desperate state of Ireland. Swift is taking a situation occurring in real life and responding with a fictional solution.

In “Rockingham’s Eerie Echoes of Ferguson”, Saraiya compares a movie to tragic occurrences happening in the present. Saraiya chose to compare the fictional film to the shooting occurring at Ferguson, where a white cop shot a black teen. Mocking Jay was released right before “the grand jury’s verdict” (Saraiya, 394). Throughout “Rockingham’s Eerie Echos of Ferguson” Saraiya draws conclusions between the occurrences in the fictional film and their similarities to the tragedies occurring in real life. Talking about the film Mocking Jay, Saraiya says “the oppression of the farflung districts, where as always, children bear the burden of poverty” (Saraiya, 394). Compared to Swift’s “Modest Proposal”, Saraiya and Swift both recognize that burdens can be placed on children. In response to famine in Ireland, Swift turns to the children as a way to solve the issue. The children would be carrying the burden of poverty (Saraiya) from the famine. 

In the comparison of the film Mocking Jay to the shooting at Ferguson, Saraiya points out that “some children matter more than others” (395). This is applicable to both essays compared. In The Hunger Games series, children are thrown into dangerous games for the entertainment of the rich. In Swift’s proposal he doesn’t directly mention that certain children may be chosen over others, but it can be concluded that the children with poor families will be most likely to be sold for food. 

A similarity between the two essays are the idea of protesting. Swift wrote “A Modest Proposal” is written as almost a protest to the authorities in Ireland and a call for help for the people. Saraiya says “…in the wake of Ferguson, some of the most terrifying sequences of “Mockingjay” are the protests by the rebels against the all-powerful Capitol” (397). Saraiya draws similarities between the fictional film and protests occurring after the shooting. Saraiya calls Mockingjay a “dark mirror of our own” (396).  Swift’s modest proposal can also be seen as a “dark mirror” of the Irish people. His suggestions about selling children for food reflect the desperation and need of the Irish. 

These texts both take fiction and relate it to real life. The difference is that “A Modest Proposal” was written is response to the struggle faced by citizens in Ireland in the 1700’s. Saraiya’s essay “Rockingham’s Eerie Echoes of Ferguson” discusses the similar experiences faced by citizens in the movie Mocking Jay and the aftermath of the shooting at Ferguson
