A Modest Proposal Indeed

          Johnathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" entails a brilliant plan to improve Ireland, and in particular, its economy. The plan solves completely several key issues plaguing the country at the time: high crime rate, poverty, and economic reliance on England. Swift demonstrates yet another benefit of selling year old children for food when he writes "[T]his food would likewise bring great custom to taverns, where the vintners will certainly be so prudent as to procure the best receipts for dressing it to perfection" (359). As Swift explains, people would travel from around the world to visit the Irish taverns, so they could have a taste of yearling child. One can see how this tradition would greatly benefit all of Ireland, people paying for a delicacy possibly exclusive to Ireland, extra income for many people, a more diverse economy (yearling children in addition to pork and beef), and even set a trend for Ireland having the most avant-garde food. In this fashion, Swift's suggestion would enable Ireland to create an economy stronger than that of England, and perhaps become a superpower.
          Of course, eating yearling children would simply be cannibalism, and would not be avante-garde in the slightest. The idea of putting a price on children based on how much food they would be is absurd as well. Swift hints that his work is a satire when he explains "I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children" (357). The landlords have not devoured any parents, and most likely gave many people a difficult time instead. That kind of irony appears throughout the paper, as nobody should expect Swift to be serious about such a suggestion, and thus the mock seriousness creates the irony. Another several clues are the references to other satirists of the time, from whom Swift cites dubious evidence. Despite such irony, Swift does have a serious message amidst the fake seriousness. The paper is a call to action, drawing attention to poverty's pervasiveness in Ireland. Although he does not offer a real solution, suggesting such drastic measures to combat the problem illustrates just how severe the issue is.

Swift, Jonathan. "A Modest Proposal." Elements of Argument: A Text and Reader. Annette T. Rottenberg and Donna Haisty Winchell. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2006. 354-361. Print.