Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” written in 1729 proposes a solution to poverty and starvation by consuming of infants in Ireland. The narrator suggests in this proposal that this would cause Ireland’s inhabitants to “Love their country, nor acting any longer like those who were murdering one another at the very moment their city was taken”. However, this more seems like a method to devour oneself than a method to escape poverty. Devouring the infants would only lead to economic downfall and a rise in criminal activity.

Contrary to the narrator’s belief that this method would decrease the theft, abortion, and murder rate of unwanted children, I would not be so afraid to say that this would be considered, if passed, nothing

Mares and cows do not maintain our social standard, and also lack the proper intelligence to come to the conclusion that we breed them for food. The narrator also claims that for the first year that nursing this child would be free from cost by means of breast milk, and the “Breeder” would gain 8 shillings which at the time isn’t even half a pound. After some research, according to “The Proceedings of the Old Bailey” a child cared for in the hospital could cost up to one pound and twelve shillings, which would make men look at their wives more as a vessel rather than becoming fond of them. This would not cover hospital expenses or any other expense that may arise in the nine months that it takes for the baby to be born and not worth the hardships of

It would lead to a deplete in resources, kidnappings of loved ones, and begin an even more serious offense of dehumanization among people, especially Catholics. I would suggest the removal of “The Cattle Acts of 1666” which prohibits importing livestock, and “The Woolen Acts of 1699” that limits the wool production and forbid of export of wool from American Colonies. This gives total control of all trade to England’s Government and land owners, while the great people of Ireland starve and consider consuming their own future. Jonathan Swift spoke on political flaws in his book “Gulliver’s Travels” by stating "whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put