The themes and elements used in Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal shook the country by breaking a silence while using a type of journalism that was uncommon in the time period, but has paved the way for modern journalism and entertainment today. By looking at the satirical side of the story through changing the main subjects to something so obscene while using reason and humor, we can see the motives this piece has on us which most readers don’t see; this is important because without Jonathan Swift’s writing style and unique voice, he would come off as a lunatic, rather than a sane man. 

In Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal, there is a proposal being made that is absolutely insane, yet stated so simply. It is something that pulls the reader into what Swift is proposing. It makes you wonder, how can this man say the things he is saying without a slight wince. Swift states, “I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection” (Swift) then proceeds to explain his entricate plan about how babies should be fed to the rich people and how to cook them and efficiently keep up supply with the demand. The use of this simplicity is mind boggling and just makes you really question the true underlying message of this proposal. This article was published anonymously in 1729 as a hit at the way the government is handling their situation of being very impoverished while being constantly knocked down by England and the upper class politicians where the money and power resides. “In 1720 Swift broke nearly 20 years of silence to develop rapidly into the strongest voice of protest against this trend (English rule and oppression)” (Baker 1999). I think that the importance of him breaking this silence is that everyone is just so fed up with the government at this point and the people who are being taken advantage of have reached the point where Swift can just say, well, nothing else has worked so why not this.  It has gone on for too long that they are resorting to this method. During this time period, it must have been more astounding to see this writer publish a piece attacking the system, rather than how he is attacking them with satire and sarcasm. 

Throughout the proposal, Jonathan Swift had made it very clear what the majority of his satirical “proposal” was about breeding, trafficking, and harvesting kids to feed to the upper class. This theme of cannibalism was not a way to say, yes lets just eat everyone in sight. It was dehumanizing while at the same time humanzing. Yes this may seem confusing, but Swift uniquely cut out any other source of food, and put humans in the blank space. Any person would read this and thing, huh, this guy isn’t serious and this is pretty comedic, I do the same thing with a steak and potatoes. Although it is a very funny and odd thing, like any good satire, there has to be an issue addressed. Swift refers to feeding everyone humans because there is a famine going on in Ireland. The lower class is starving to death and this is starting to spread into the middle class as well. However, the policy makers are living lavishly at the top and see no reason to change the system because it is already benefitting them