Jonathan Swift used satire in "A Modest Proposal" to sharply criticize the attitudes and policies of English society toward the impoverished Irish in the early 18th century. Swift employs grotesque irony by suggesting that poor Irish families should sell their children as food for the rich, a shocking idea meant to expose the heartless nature and moral bankruptcy of the English ruling class.

Swift's Use of Satire

Swift's proposal is presented in a cold, logical tone, using economic arguments and statistics to support his outrageous idea. This technique mocks the rational, detached approach often used by politicians and economists of the time to justify cruel policies, highlighting how Irish children and the poor were treated as mere commodities rather than humans. By treating children like livestock, Swift exposes the dehumanizing and racist attitudes embedded in English society.

Social Critique

The essay critiques English colonial exploitation, economic oppression, and the indifference of the wealthy toward the suffering of Irish families. Swift targets the landlords, politicians, and elites who ignore Irish misery or treat the poor as inconvenient burdens. Through exaggerated and satirical proposals, Swift calls out the real social problems: poverty, economic injustice, and the lack of compassion in English society at the time.

Enduring Impact

By shocking readers through satire, Swift provokes critical thinking about injustice and inequality, showing how literature can be a powerful tool for social commentary and reform. "A Modest Proposal" remains a prominent example of how satire can highlight societal flaws and challenge entrenched prejudices.