A Modest Proposal

By Jonathan Swift

Pamphlet

• Published in 1729
• Pamphlets took a stand on a political, religious, or social issue—or any other issue of public interest.

Jonathan Swift

• Born in Ireland of English parents.
• As a child, Swift was abducted by his nurse and taken to England for three years.
• He was later returned to Ireland, where he was cared for by his uncle.
• As an adult, Swift divided his time between London and Ireland
• Swift regarded himself as more English than Irish, but he believed England was exploiting and oppressing Ireland.

Historical Background

• English Protestants acquired 90% of Irish land.
• Irish Catholics unsuccessfully rebelled.
• Laws limited the rights of the Irish to hold office, purchase land, get an education, and advance themselves.
• As a result, many Irish fled to foreign lands, including America.
• Those who remained lived in poverty, faced disease, starvation, and prejudice.

Purpose

• To call attention to wealthy English Protestants abusing Irish Catholics

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• Many Irish worked on farms owned by Englishmen

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• Rents were so high that the Irish were unable to pay.

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• Thus, many Irish families lived on the edge of starvation.

Make fun of English Landlords

• “A Modest Proposal” suggests that Irish infants be sold as food at age one
• Gives the Irish a new source of income
• Gives the English a new food product
• Eliminates a “social problem” of street urchins.

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Make fun of prejudice to Catholics

• Catholics babies in Ireland would end up in stews and other dishes instead of growing up
• This reduces those who go to Catholic churches.

Make fun of the Irish

• Too many accepted abuse stoically
• Not enough rebelled or took action on their own behalf.

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Foreshadows the 1840s potato famine