Jonathan Swift: A Modest Proposal, 1729

Context

Jonathan Swift is the author of ‘A Modest Proposal’, an early 18th century satirical essay that highlights social and political issues in Ireland under English rule.
Swift’s text is renowned for embodying irony and dark humour to critique the dehumanising policies of the English government towards the Irish poor.

Content and Themes

Poverty and Class Inequality: Swift criticises the privileged English who ignore the plight of the impoverished Irish. ‘A Modest Proposal’ highlights the drastic conditions of the poor and the indifference of the rich.
Cannibalism as Metaphor: Swift suggests the selling and consumption of the poor’s children as food, a shocking methaphor underlines the savagery of the English rule and governmental policies.
Satire and Irony: Swift uses satire to criticise contemporary social and political conditions. The irony is used to shock the reader and to expose the inhumanity of the English policies.

Structure and Language

Swift’s essay is characterised by its formal tone and structure, parodying the scientific and economic treatises of his time.
Swift implements a proposal/solution format to convey his criticisms, thus contrasting the inhumane content with the logical, formal structure.
Rhetorical devices: Swift uses imagery, irony and hyperbole as key rhetorical devices to develop his satire.
Swift’s language is characterised by understatement, contrast between the horrific content and calm, rational tone, and deliberately emotive vocabulary used to mock the attitudes of his targets.

Reception

The text, which continues to be studied today for its literary merit and historical insight, initially provoked outrage due to its darkly satirical tone.
Swift uses the shock value of the text to illustrate the desperate state of the Irish under English control and to provoke a response from the audience.

Interpretation

Swift’s proposal isn’t meant to be taken literally; instead, it serves as a metaphor for the harsh English policies.
‘A Modest Proposal’ can be seen as a severe criticism of the commodification of the poor, illustrating the dehumanising effects of class disparity.