Swift clearly states that he sympathizes with the Catholics in calling Ireland one of the “Roman Catholic countries” and by saying that one of the advantages of his plan would be “lessening the number of Papists”(633). Swift sympathising with the Catholics is significant because if he had not sympathised with them, he would not have written “A Modest Proposal” in opposition to the cruel laws imposed by the English. Swift did not write this because he particularly liked the Irish, but because he despised the inhumanity of the English. Swift’s unique view of the situation explains why he uses his satire not only to criticize the English but also the Irish.
At the time that “A Modest Proposal” was written people of English descent had control over Ireland. England used its power over Ireland for the profit of the English with disregard for the effects upon the Irish. Lyman Baker called the conditions in Ireland at the time a “tangle of frustrations which nearly strangle that country”(Baker). The frustrations came about because the “ Protestant minorities had united with the English to force …show more content…
Cannibalism is often seen as an uncivilized and animalistic practice, so it is not something that the wealthy would like to be associated with. For this reason, Jonathan Swift makes many remarks about the wealthy such as “I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords”(633). Swift also alludes to the wealthy saying the food would “bring great custom to taverns” that would be “frequented by all the fine gentlemen”(636). Swift even mentions them in his conclusion, saying that his proposal would give “some pleasure to the rich”(638). Swift mentioned the wealthy in this manner in order to offend them; offending someone is often the best way to grab their attention. Swift wanted their attention in order to set them into motion; at this point, no one was working to fix the many problems in
At the time that “A Modest Proposal” was written people of English descent had control over Ireland. England used its power over Ireland for the profit of the English with disregard for the effects upon the Irish. Lyman Baker called the conditions in Ireland at the time a “tangle of frustrations which nearly strangle that country”(Baker). The frustrations came about because the “ Protestant minorities had united with the English to force …show more content…
Cannibalism is often seen as an uncivilized and animalistic practice, so it is not something that the wealthy would like to be associated with. For this reason, Jonathan Swift makes many remarks about the wealthy such as “I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords”(633). Swift also alludes to the wealthy saying the food would “bring great custom to taverns” that would be “frequented by all the fine gentlemen”(636). Swift even mentions them in his conclusion, saying that his proposal would give “some pleasure to the rich”(638). Swift mentioned the wealthy in this manner in order to offend them; offending someone is often the best way to grab their attention. Swift wanted their attention in order to set them into motion; at this point, no one was working to fix the many problems in