Modest Proposal
Precis
Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal, Fiction, (1729), This book brings about the important issue of poverty and famine in Ireland, “I am assured by very knowing American of my acquainted in London; that a very young healthy child, well nourished, 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 ragout.” Swift supports his idea by proposing it to be people of the town and even stating how you can cook the child and feed it to people, “A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone the fore or hind quarter will make reasonable dish and seasoned with a little pepper or salt. Swift real purpose in writing this is get people to realize that if we don’t help these people that struggle everyday then we as well cook them and eat them, because ether way they are going to die. His target audience is the wealthy people and the government because they have the most power to change things in the city, and his tone changes throughout the book to keep the audience attention “Another great advantage in my scheme, that it will prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering there bastard children” (attention grabber).