A Modest Proposal

This essay is widely held to be one of the greatest examples of sustained irony in the history of the English language. Much of its shock value derives from the fact that the first portion of the essay describes the plight of starving beggars in Ireland, so that the reader is unprepared for the surprise of Swift's solution when he states: "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 fricassee, or a ragout." Swift goes to great lengths to support his argument, including a list of possible preparation styles for the children, and calculations showing the financial benefits of his suggestion. He uses methods of argument throughout his essay which lampoon the then-influential William Petty and the social engineering popular among followers of Francis Bacon. These lampoons include appealing to the authority of "a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London" and "the famous Psalmanazar, a native of the island Formosa" (who had already confessed to not being from Formosa in 1706).

Author: Jonathan Swift
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 08/11/2018
Pages: 26
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.08lbs
Size: 7.99h x 5.00w x 0.05d
ISBN13: 9781725049949
ISBN10: 1725049945
BISAC Categories:
- Social Science | Social Classes & Economic Disparity
- Social Science | Essays

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