A Modest Proposal For Preventing The Children of Poor People in Ireland From Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and For Making Them Beneficial to The Public Read the above quote from the introduction of A Modest Proposal and think about the possible proposal Swift could be suggesting – remember verbal irony and satire when coming up with your ideas.

…sacrificing the poor innocent babes I doubt more to avoid the expense than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhuman breast. Read the above quote from A Modest Proposal and copy it into your notes. Who is reading this essay? Why is it important to understand who the audience is?

The Proposal 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 wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.

Reason 1 Lessen the number of Catholics in Ireland (what is he trying to say about the landowners?)

Reason 2 Catholics will be able to own something salable – therefore able to pay debts to the landowners

Reason 3 Substituting infants for money will help the economy – people will have money to spend instead of wasting money on their children.

Reason 4 Women will be able to keep money for themselves instead of paying money towards the upkeep of their children. (how much richer would your parents be?)

Reason 5 Chefs will try to outdo each other by enhancing the dear meat to the best of their ability. They will make a great profit being able to charge whatever they would like

Reason 6 Boom in marriage and in kindness from mothers to babies Mothers will compete to see who has the most “tender” child Husbands will dote on their wives (like animals about to give birth – for fear of miscarriage)

Questions Finish reading "A Modest Proposal" and answer the following questions (please hand in today/tomorrow first thing).  Use examples or give evidence to support your answers. 1.Who is the audience? 2.What is the problem? 3.What is the “modest” proposal? 4.What are the six reasons Swift lists that support his proposal?