The Eighteenth-century was not an easy time for the country of Ireland, which was facing an ever continuous social, economical, and political dilemma. In his work, "A Modest Proposal", Jonathan Swift orchestrates a witty satire aimed not only at the arithmeticians of the time, but at the people of Ireland as well. Through varying tones he introduces a plan of commercial ... . Through his calculating rationality Swift underlines that the people are the nation's richest resource, despite their failure to use themselves in any nationally constructive way. The final piece in making "A Modest Prop...

• Word Count: 961
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... by the persona plays a critical role in awakening the Irish to the reality of their oppressive environment. By convincing the people of Ireland to reform, Jonathan Swift proved his satire, "A Modest Proposal" to be an effective change agent. The people of Ireland went through a stage of awakening due to Swifts' scintillating portrayal of their corrupted, exploited, and dehumanized lives. The satire ... gave the Irish a better grasp of reality. They were able to grasp the severity of their crisis and that they were compliant in their oppression. "A Modest Proposal," then, is an absurd par...

• Word Count: 878
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

A Modest Proposal, supposedly written by an intelligent and objective "political arithmetician" who had carefully studied Ireland before making his proposal. Most of you probably know this one. The author calmly suggests one solution for both the problem of overpopulation and the growing numbers of undernourished people: breed those children who ... wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled." He suggests the solution for overpopulation problem can be solved by citizens" becoming carnivores. However, he has no intention of following his proposal, "I have no children by which I...

• Word Count: 200
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: Undergraduate