Modest Proposal Themes

A Modest Proposal dives deep into the intertwining problems of Ireland using a bit of derision and irony. The essay was written and published anonymously by Jonathan Swift, a well educated man who was embedded in Irish politics. Directed towards the English who were buying up all the land in Ireland and the Irish themselves A Modest Proposal is meant to open up the eyes of those who are contributing to Irelands downfall through 3 major themes: suffering, ethics & morality, and greed. Swift sets the stage with a colorful account of what one might see while walking the streets of Ireland. “It is a melancholy object to walk through this great town, or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and all importuning every passenger for an alms.” Suffering of the poor mothers and children is used to trigger empathy in the readers or at least to shed some light on how much wight the problem really holds. He then takes this suffering and proposes a way to end it all at no cost and with many pros. Ethnics and Morals however, is laced a little …show more content…
Greed can be seen throughout the English and Irish people. The English hastily rule over the Irish and pay little mind to their ever grown problems with population, famine, and poverty. Thus causing those who are able to obtain any bit of wealth or property to do what they need to keep it and pay little mind to those suffering. “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.” (12) With that Swift suggests that the landlords are controlled by the all-encompassing greed that hangs over Ireland, they eat up their tenants money and do little to nothing to help