A Modest Proposal

"Whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making these children sound and useful members of the common-wealth, would deserve so well of the public, as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation."

― Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal

A Modest Proposal, a Juvenalian satirical essay written by Jonathan Swift.

In this essay, Swift presents a proposal "For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick".

The first portion of the essay describes the sad fate of the poverty-stricken Irish, followed by Swift's solution for that - which is to raise children as food for the wealthy citizens.

Swift goes to great lengths to support his argument. He discusses the probable benefits of his suggestion to the economy and even includes a list of possible cooking methods and how much a child should weigh to serve the maximum number of guests.

The author insists that the only objection anyone could have to this plan is that there will be a decrease in the population - but even that could be beneficial in some ways.

Will you be able to accept Swift´s modest proposal? Read his arguments and contemplate.

Add to cart and get your copy now!