“A Modest Proposal”

by Jonathan Swift
In this selection, read to learn
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) was raised and educated in how Swift uses satire to expose
Ireland, but he was a strong supporter of the Tory the brutality of Irish suffering
government in England. In 1713, in reward for this defense and to portray England’s
of Tory policies, Queen Anne appointed him dean of St. absentee landlords and leaders
Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. In later years, especially
under Robert Walpole, Britains’s first prime minister. The
as fools. While reading,
excerpts below are from Swift’s “A Modest Proposal for annotate the different
Preventing the Children of Ireland From Being a Burden to satirical devices Swift uses
Their Parents or County.” throughout.

It is a melancholy object to of the commonwealth, would deserve

those, who 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
importuning every passenger for an
alms. These mothers instead of
being able to work for their honest
livelihood, are forced to employ all
their time in strolling to beg
sustenance for their helpless infants
who, as they grow up, either turn
thieves for want of work, or leave
their dear native country, to fight for
the Pretender in Spain, or sell
themselves to the Barbadoes.
I think it is agreed by all parties,
that this prodigious number of
children in the arms, or on the
backs, or at the heels of their
mothers, and frequently of their
fathers, is in the present deplorable
state of the kingdom [England], a
very great additional grievance;
and therefore whoever could find
out a fair, cheap and easy method
of making these children sound and
useful members
so well of the public, as to have his
statue set up for a preserver of the
nation.
…I shall now therefore humbly
propose my own thoughts, which I
hope will not be liable to the least
objection.

I have been assured by a very
knowing American of my
acquaintance in London, that a
young healthy child well nursed, is, at
a year old, a most delicious nourishing
and 60 wholesome food, whether
stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled;
and I make no doubt that it will
equally serve in a fricasie, or a ragous
…A child will make two dishes at
an entertainment for friends, and
when the family dines alone, the fore
or hind quarter will make a reasonable
dish, and seasoned with a little pepper
or salt, will be very good boiled on the
fourth day, especially in winter.
…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.
 …Those who are more thrifty (as I
must confess the times require) may
flea the carcass; the skin of which,
artificially dressed, will make admirable
gloves for ladies, and summer boots for
fine gentlemen.


…Some persons of a desponding
spirit are in great concern about that
vast number of poor people, who are
aged, diseased, or maimed; and I
have been desired to employ my
thoughts what course may be taken, to
ease the nation of so grievous an
encumbrance. But I am not in the least
pain upon that matter, because it is
very well known, that they are every
day dying, and rotting, by cold and
famine, and filth, and vermin, as fast as
can be reasonably expected.
…I think the advantages by the
proposal which I have made are
obvious and many, as well as of the
highest importance.
cathloics For first, as I have already observed,
it would greatly lessen the number of
Papists, with whom we are yearly over-
run, being the principal breeders of the
nation, as well as our most dangerous
enemies…
Secondly, The poorer tenants will
have something valuable of their own,
which by law may be made liable to a
distress, and help to pay their landlord's
rent, their corn and cattle being
already seized, and money a thing
unknown.
Thirdly, Whereas the maintenance
of an hundred thousand children, from
two years old, and upwards, cannot be
computed at less than ten shillings a
piece per annum, the nation's stock will
be thereby increased fifty


thousand pounds per annum, besides the
profit of a new dish, introduced to the
tables of all gentlemen of fortune in the
kingdom, who have any refinement in
taste…
Fourthly, The constant breeders,
besides the gain of eight shillings sterling
per annum by the sale of their children,
will be rid of the charge of maintaining
them after the first year.
Fifthly, This food would likewise bring
great custom to taverns, where the
vintners will certainly be so prudent as to
procure the best receipts for dressing it to
perfection; and consequently have their
houses frequented by all the fine
gentlemen, who justly value themselves
upon their knowledge in good eating…
Sixthly, This would be a great
inducement to marriage, which all wise
nations have either encouraged by
rewards, or enforced by laws and
penalties. It would increase the care and
tenderness of mothers towards their
children, when they were sure of a
settlement for life to the poor babes…
I desire those politicians who dislike my
overture, and may perhaps be so bold to
attempt an answer, that they will first ask
the parents of these mortals, whether
they would not at this day think it a great
happiness to have been sold for food at a
year old, in the manner I prescribe, and
thereby have avoided such a perpetual
scene of misfortunes, as they have since
gone through, by the oppression of
landlords, the impossibility of paying rent
without money or trade, the want of
common sustenance, with neither house
nor clothes to cover them from the
inclemencies of the weather, and the
most inevitable prospect of entailing the
like, or greater miseries, upon their breed
for ever.
 Interpreting the Reading

1. What is the author’s “modest proposal”?

The author’s modest proposal is

how there are too many people on this earth and if we were to kill the kids than the world would not be so overfilled with
people and trying to come up with reasonable solutions are not the best option.

2. Why does the author say this proposal is “very popular for Landlords”?

The author says that this proposal is “very popular for landlords”
by explaining how People who have kids have to pay more for the things they need to keep their kids alive and that includes
a place to stay and if the did not have kids then they would not to pay for so much.

3. What are the “advantages” of this proposal?

The advantages of this proposal
are the world would be less populated, enough food, more shelter, less crying babies, more people who are
helping the world to be a better place and less violence, be helpful for land lords.

4. How does Swift structure his proposal?

Swift structures his proposal by using
bathos and he says that if they got rid of the kids then they would have a better world and he changes
his moods.

He explains why the world is overpopulated and logical reasons to solving it but then thinks that they are not important and uses
another approach

5. What effect do you think Swift’s proposal had on England’s leaders?

Swift’s proposal affected the leaders of England by
making them mad because he wanted to kill the kids as a way to lower the population, he said that this would be good
for the leaders but others have different views on this.