In “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift, he suggests unthinkable solutions to controlling the population of poor children while stimulating economic growth in Ireland. While they are completely separate issues, Swift devises a plan will combat both problems with one solution. He uses satire when describing how the Irish government should deal with its poor people and the problem with thousands of hungry children who have no place to sleep or food to eat. He suggests feeding small children of poor families to the rich people. He even gives details on how to cook the children prior to being eaten. I’m sure people thought he was crazy at this point. But his objective was to gain the attention of the government. He wanted to make people aware of the two major problems that were plaguing Ireland at that time. Poverty and lack of jobs were a big concern for the people of Ireland. This proposal was written in 1729 and wasn’t well received by the general population. In the 1700’s the world was a much different place than it is today. Some of those same social and economic problems still exist today in Ireland, but the approach for resolving these issues are quite different today.
To even suggest that people sell their young to be eaten by the rich is absurd, even though the author didn’t mean it in a literal sense. ”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 ...” If Swift had written this essay today, it would never be published because of the social backlash it would receive. Human Rights activists, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), NAACP, Government officials and the whole religious community would be up in arms if someone were to put this in print. Perhaps even put in jail for saying such things about children.
The economic issues that faced Ireland in the 18th century...