What are the overt and implied thesis statements in a modest proposal?

Answer 1

The obvious thesis of "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift, is that 18th century Ireland will be much better off if the poor parents sell their year old child to rich Englishmen for money. However, if the reader takes into account the satirical element of Swift's writing as evident by his other works and ironic writing style, the reader can see that there are multiple theses that tie together. They are; England is oppressive to the Irish -to the point that they would consider selling and eating their own children for money, that there is significant religious disdain and prejudice of the English Protestants to the Irish Catholics, and that the Irish are inactive in making their own lives better.