english lords-apex
upper-class families of Ireland - apex
In Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal," the group being targeted negatively is the impoverished Irish population. Swift uses satire to highlight the dire situation of the poor, suggesting that the wealthy English elite view them as expendable and burdensome. By proposing the shocking idea of selling poor children as food, he critiques the indifference and exploitation faced by the Irish under British rule, ultimately aiming to provoke a moral response from his audience.
English Lords
rich people
Jonathan Swift wrote "A Modest Proposal" in English.
In "A Modest Proposal," Jonathan Swift indirectly targets the Anglo-Irish landlords and the British government, who exploit and oppress the Irish populace. By suggesting that the impoverished Irish sell their children as food to the wealthy, Swift highlights the dehumanizing attitudes and neglect of the ruling class towards the suffering of the Irish people. This satirical approach underscores the moral bankruptcy of those in power, emphasizing the urgent need for social and political reform.
"A Modest Proposal" was written by Jonathan Swift in 1729.
Jonathan Swift.
Jonathan Swift titled his work "A Modest Proposal" as a satirical and ironic play on words. Despite the proposal being outlandish and shocking, Swift presents it with a tone of seriousness and reasonableness, highlighting the absurdity of the situation. The title serves to draw attention to the social and economic issues that Swift criticizes in his work.
The narrator of Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal is an unnamed persona that presents a satirical argument suggesting that the poor Irish should sell their children as food to the wealthy. Through this persona, Swift critiques the British government's mistreatment of the Irish people.
Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" suggests that his proposal can reduce the number of poor families burdened by children, provide economic benefits by selling babies as a commodity, and alleviate overpopulation and the strain on resources in Ireland.