Jonathan Swift, an Irish writer known by most for his book Gulliver's Travels, is also the author behind “A Modest Proposal”. Swift was born on November 30, 1667 in Dublin, Ireland. Two months prior to his birth, Swift’s father passed away suddenly. He was then taken in by one of his uncles in hopes for a better life by his mother. At age six he attended Kilkenny School in Dublin. He then earned his bachelor of arts degree at Trinity College.
“A Modest Proposal” was written in 1729 during the Restoration Era, also referred to as The Enlightenment. This time period emphasized applying …show more content…
For example, “I can think of no one objection that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom” (Swift, 620). In this line, Swift states he sees no reason why anyone would be against the idea of eating children. It will save money and control population, what is so bad about that? Metaphors are also used to express this cannibalistic idea. Swift writes, “I grant this food will be somewhat dear[costly], 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” (Swift, 617). The word “devoured” may not only literally mean eating of the children, but how the children have devoured their parents financially by using all of their money. Swift writes this piece very literally and the ending serves some irony as well. It is learned that this idea is simply just that, and idea. The narrator does not really agree with the idea of cannibalism expressed in this