In Jonathan Swift’s, “A Modest Proposal” the reader is introduced to a specific use of tone, called satire. The entirety of the story is satirical because it makes fun of other big ideas that people have proposed to solve big problems in society. The particular problem at hand in this story takes place in Ireland in the 1720’s, which was a time of depression in Ireland. The biggest issue at the time was a huge potato famine which was Ireland's leading and most prominent crop. Swift knows a lot about this time because he was born in Dublin which is where this story takes place. Swift wrote this story because it is part of his family and country's history. He specifically brings to light the mistreatment of Irish Catholics by English Protestants. He believed England was exploiting Ireland for their crops which pushed many farming families to the brink of starvation. This combined with the population increasing caused a major problem and it also paints the backstory of Swift's story. The culture and time period is set in such a difficult time that it gives the author an opportunity to write a story with satire. With the use of satire the story addresses some social problems as well. By looking at the author's use of satire we can see his proposals are purposely grim to show how authoritarian government has gotten out of control which most readers don't see; this is important because it addresses some social issues. 

Swift uses satirical tone to give us a glimpse into the hardship in Ireland during the 1720’s. Satire is mainly used in literature to show folly and wrongdoing in humans, especially within the government or other organizations. Later in the story Swift brings up a very controversial opinion to throw off the reader. He says, “I am assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London; that a young healthy child, well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food; whether stewed, roasted, baked or boiled, and I make no doubt, that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or ragout. (207)” This was easily the most unique line in the story. He introduces this idea in a very surprising way by claiming that babies are delicious when you stew,bake, or boil them. This idea is so far fetched that it showcases the overall irony of the story. This line does not come until later in the essay however. Swift is building up the reader's confidence and comfortability by saying reasonable things with good intentions. It almost appears that this is a serious story is the beginning, which makes this quote even more shocking. Another unique quote comes when Swift is mocking the type of Englishmen who supported starving the Irish farmers in the 1720’s, "A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I highly esteem, was lately pleased in discoursing on this matter to offer a refinement upon my scheme. (208) " He is pretending to be a modern upper class, English thinker of the 1720’s when they suggested starving the people of Ireland for their own benefit. Swift suggests that these type of men would eat the flesh of fourteen-year-old children in addition to infants to solve their problems. Satire makes it easy to poke fun and call out ridiculous ideas of the government in the past.

Swifts hidden meaning behind this story is to show how authoritarian government has got out of control. Swift, a native Irishman, is clearly fed up by the stuck up English politicians exploiting the people of Ireland. He takes on the role of corrupt politician in order to give us a bird's-eye view of hardhearted British public policy. His goal is to make the English politicians look as foolish as possible while also still offering up advice on how to correct their diplomatic issues. Swift mocks England's leaders very early in the story, “ and therefore, whoever could find out a fair, cheap, and easy method of making these children sound and useful members of the commonwealth would deserve so well of the public as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation” (20). In this specific part he is making fun of England's approach to public policy because it emphasizes economy first. The English were so greedy that they were only satisfied with money and didn't care whether or not the people of Ireland were safe and well. Later on in the essay he goes on to talk about how the English politicians had no remorse for the Irish people, “As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon this imports subject and maturely weighed the several schemes of other projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in their computations”(40). This is where Swift beings to toss out crazy guesses of how many people live in Ireland. The lack of knowledge of how many people are in the country that they are right next to and are controlling is pretty sad. Swift wants to highlight that to the English, Irish people were just like animals, they didn't care about them and only used them for money. 

Swift addresses social issues that were important at the time of this essay. The most troubling issue at the time of this essay was poverty in Ireland. Almost everybody was poor because almost everybody was a farmer. Once the potato famine hit, everybody went starving because nobody had money or a job. Early in the story Swift addresses this poverty, “But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the children of professed beggars; it is of a much greater extent, and shall take in the whole number of infants at a certain age who are born of parents in effect as little able to support them as those who demand our charity in the streets” (30). The children of farmers and the children of beggars were pretty similar socially. They were looked at the same and treated the same, essentially, it was very common to be poor in Ireland. One of the sadder things brought to light by Swift's essay was that mothers in Ireland were largely unable to care for their children. He highlights that struggle early on in the story, “These mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg for sustenance for their helpless infants, who, as they grow up, either turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbados” (10).  He shows that moms really want to be able to help their kids but they just can't do to the circumstances they are faced with. It is only the wealthy families that mothers can take care of their children. 

Throughout this complicated story it was clear that Swift has an emotional connection with tht e people of Ireland. However, him being a naturally “funny”/ sarcastic guy he chose to write the essay in satire to light heartedly show how horrible the people of Ireland suffered during the 1720’s. His satirical tone helped myself as the reader to understand both sides of this conflict. I got to see how the people of England treated the people of Ireland and visa versa. He narrates the story in the role of corrupt politician in order to give us a bird's-eye view of hardhearted British public policy, while also addressing some social issues at the time. Overall, this story gives the reader a history lesson of the time period while using a lighter tone of writing to keep the reader indifferent on their opinions of this time period. 
