A Modest Proposal Indeed

"A Modest Proposal" grows out of Swift’s furious indignation, his disgust with English oppression, and his frustrations with Ireland’s poor. This, from an Englishman, is very surprising. Although, he too, was not all too fond of the Irish people, he tried to help them. Swift viewed his country as being cruel and belligerent to the Irish people. Swift tried to help Ireland and it’s people in many ways. However, the way that …

…beggars; it is of a much greater extent, and shall take in the whole number of infants at a certain age who are born of parents in effect as little able to support them as those who demand our charity in the streets." This is who Swift decided to single out. He suggested that they eat the babies of not only the beggars of Ireland, but everyone that couldn’t afford to keep their children.