During the 18th century England placed many restrictions and created many policies that Ireland had to abide by. Due to these restrictions, Ireland was ironically faced with poverty while they originally were put into place to fix this issue. These rules did not benefit Ireland to say the least. The majority of Ireland in the 18th century was Roman Catholic. To break apart the Catholic estates England established laws specifically targeted at Catholics: they were unable to purchase land, take out loans, own weapons, horses, or vote (Baker, 1). All of these aspects contributed to the poverty in Ireland. England attacked the Irish in a clever way by imposing many laws and concepts which lead to the downfall of Ireland and its people. Not being able to take out loans gives a huge disadvantage for the Irish and makes life a lot more difficult. Being unable to own weapons makes them defenseless and not being able to vote makes them seem irrelevant. England performed very inhumane acts by placing these restrictions. 

Something had to be done to resolve this problem, but there seemed to be nothing that could help. Many individuals performed serious proposals to consider, which were all very similar drawing no attention from the government or the public. Jonathan Swift had a different idea in mind, making a satirical proposal. Satire is the use of humor, irony or exaggeration to criticize people’s stupidity, mainly criticizing social and political issues. He realized serious proposals would just be disregarded, so he came up with one that would stick around forever. He surprised a lot of individuals and got them to really think in depth of all the problems they were facing. A serious proposal is something that you read and forget about, but a satirical proposal allows each person to think beyond what is written, and instead it shows the full impact of the problem. Swift starts out by stating the purpose of his modest proposal, “For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick.” This immediately gives the reader background information on Ireland during the Restoration period and helps reveal the main satirical technique the writer is beginning with. Jonathan Swift chose to use satire to draw attention towards a highly debated issue, and by looking at this satirical proposal we can see that the relationship between England and Ireland was like brother and sister; they constantly argued.

During this time, there are factors that make Ireland both weak and vulnerable. They not only suffered poverty, but also a huge overpopulation problem as well as being secluded from trade. Due to overpopulation and poverty, infants were considered helpless and only a burden. Swift elaborates by saying “These mothers instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg 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” (Swift 514). After running across this the reader begins to think that there is no use in possessing kids in this time period, and that is exactly what Swift wants you to think. Children at times can seem to be nothing but a hassle and unbeneficial. That correlates to how England thought of Ireland, a hassle and worthless. "The Irish Parliament ignored numerous proposals which Swift made in earnest — proposals to tax absentee landlords, to encourage Irish industries, to improve the land, agricultural techniques, and the quality of manufactured goods — which would have begun to rectify things" (Cody). He became very upset with England due to the many limitations given, and at Ireland for not doing anything about it. All of his time and efforts failed, so he turned to the most powerful form for a comeback… satire. This period was not a time for jokes, which is ironic because Jonathan Swift turned to Satire in times of need. He realized that his proposals along with many others were being ignored, so he used a powerful writing technique to catch the publics attention.  He began by saying how the children of Ireland could contribute greatly to the feeding, and partly to the cloathing of many thousands. The thought of Cannibalism, especially just directed at kids, is so unhuman and tends to completely shock everyone who reads it. The complete insanity of his satire symbolizes England and their Unfair restrictions on others. Swift uses this proposal to let England realize exactly how their restrictions were impacting others. 

In William Edward Hartpole Lecky’s 1918 book, “The history of Ireland allows us to trace with singular clearness the perverting and degrading influence of great legislative injustices, and the manner in which they affect in turn every element of national well-being” (Lecky, 1). “Ireland in the restoration period was treated superficial by English historians” (Lecky, 1). When England conducted these restrictions, they believed that these limitations would only be beneficial to the Irish and fix all their problems. Swift used satire to mock the English's assured improvements, stating that his insane proposal would also be beneficial to the Irish people. 

“A Modest Proposal” is filled with many disturbing and uncalled for ideas that is said to be the solution to Irelands problem. This ridiculous proposal correlates with England’s cruel “Penal laws”. Englishmen established the Anglican church and wanted everyone else to practice these same beliefs. These laws were placed directly towards Catholics, and restricted them in many different ways that led to the decline in both the economy and the people’s health. Restricting individuals based on religion is very wrong just like Mr. Swifts “immodest proposal”. 

Jonathan Swift wants the reader to see exactly how detrimental and insensible these acts were through the use of satire. To really imbed this concept into their mind, he continues to state throughout the whole novel many different ways on how this would benefit them. He also states in the beginning “I have been 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 fricasie, or a ragoust” (Swift, 515). Swift specifies an American here to allude that they were much like England during this time. He suggests that there were much economic inequalities going on. He believes that much like England, in America, the rich feed of of the poor. He goes into depth describing how the child will be cooked to emphasize England’s detriment to Irelands society. By letting the reader imagine this it really gets out the main point, which is how ridiculous England was treating Ireland. In the middle of the novel he states his calculations. These are such of how much the child will weigh throughout the “fattening up” period.  The “fattening up” period correlates to how Swift thought of England’s economy. The rich “fatten up” from the poor. It is placed in the story to show how he is making his proposal seem serious, just like England was, but it being completely a joke. Children being eaten to prevent economic instability and overpopulation is about as serious as England’s restrictions benefiting the public of Ireland.

Throughout the novel Jonathan Swift does a great job at using satire in the text to plant the seed of how England’s power in the 18th century affected Irelands well-being. The purpose of this essay wasn’t to show the perfect solution to horrible problems Ireland was dealing with, it was to demonstrate how the Irish government was allowing all of this to happen without doing anything. Swifts use of Satire is very powerful which oddly correlates to the Power of which the Irish government possessed. It is a method that writers use to help people understand specific issues placed in our society. The use of satire throughout this story not only catches the reader’s attention, but really engages them in the story and gives them a better understanding of England and Irelands relationship in the 18th century.
