Irony in "A Modest Proposal"
The pamphlet by Jonathan Swift, originally titled, "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," starts out as an absurd attempt at solving the poverty and famine problem in Ireland. The proposal solves the problem but is in complete conflict with our ethical and moral values. However, his proposal is not to be taken literally and is actually part of a much bigger plan. This is where Swift's irony comes into play. …
