Cannibalism In A Modest Proposal

Jonathan Swift’s essay “A Modest Proposal” was first published as a pamphlet in 1729. The piece is clearly written in essay form having an introduction of the proposal, presentation of the proposal, its explanation followed by the arguments supporting the idea and convincing the readers of its usefulness. The words beneath the title, “For Preventing The Children of Poor People in Ireland From Being A burden to Their Parents or Country, and For Making Them Beneficial to The Public” (1729, Swift) seems to prepare the reader for a serious argument where the author is going to convince us to agree with him. “A Modest Proposal” is an essay with a proposition. In clear, simple words, the writer offers the idea of cannibalism as the solution to the problems of

The use of the word “Modest” in the title is probably quite intentional. One expects nothing less than a revolutionary idea which could be carried out in the most easiest of manners as he builds up to the proposition. The first two paragraphs contain Imagery, the writer clearly paints the picture of the poor people of the time “the streets, the roads, the cabin doors, crowded with people of the opposite sex” (1729: Swift, para.1). In the first five paragraphs he paints a dark picture of extreme poverty in Ireland. They also include facts and figures. In the fourth paragraph, he claims the cost of a child until the age of one to be “no more than 2s” (1729: Swift, para. 4). He then talks in detail of the Demographics in Ireland in paragraph six. This prepares the readers by building what can be called momentum. The readers are inclined to give more attention and interest to what the author’s solution to the problem could possibly be. The “proposal” is given more weight and one is more curious to find out what the solution to such drastic problems might possibly