A Modest Proposal by Dr Johnathan Swift is basically his way of dealing with the social issues of Ireland in the 1700’s. Swift states “For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland,from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick. I believe Swift intends to transform a vital social issue into something that may benefit in the long run.

At the beginning of his proposal Swift informs the reader about the mothers who beg for food and money on the street. these particular mothers have many children and cannot afford to feed themselves and their families. Swift also states that many mothers kill their babies for these reasons.

Swift’s proposal revolves around starting an orphanage or charity that would be funded by those who have 2 shillings to donate. Swift provides statistics to show how the donated funding will be used and how most births result in miscarriage or death. Mothers who are forced to beg for food or money would be employed as wet nurses.

I would say Swift is a humanitarian.After being the subject of begging , he decided it was time to many a change.Swift believes in resolving this social issue will increase the overall stasis of Ireland. Swift would help create homes, jobs, and life by employing mothers and providing food and shelter for those of less fortune. Orphans

The last statements Swift makes explain why he is interested in dealing with these issues.

“I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavouring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the publick good of my country, by advancing our trade, providing for infants, relieving the poor, and giving some pleasure to the rich. I have no children, by which I can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past child-bearing.”

It seems like Swift makes a decent humanitarian approach by proposing a way to care for children and mothers of those less fortune. Actually he has a different approach.

“I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar’s child (in which list I reckon all cottagers, labourers, and four-fifths of the farmers) to be about two shillings per annum, rags included; and I believe no gentleman would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child, which, as I have said, will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat, when he hath only some particular friend, or his own family to dine with him. Thus the squire will learn to be a good landlord, and grow popular among his tenants, the mother will have eight shillings neat profit, and be fit for work till she produces another child.”

Swift is proposing that the child would be fed and taken care of until the physical weight and health is worthy of selling. The mother would make a profit and the buyer would be able to eat the body and feed his tenants ( if applicable ).

Others would be able to make gloves or boots from the skin of the babies.

Understanding this proposal has proven to be difficult but i believe Swift is creating a satire in attempt to humiliate the state of his country and the government. He does so by comparing the up-bringing of animals such as cows and pigs to humans. Swift is humiliating the fact that there are many beggars and poor families in Ireland and the government does not know how to take care of this issue.