The full title of the essay by Dr. Jonathan Swift is A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People From Being a Burden to their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick. Sounds like a pamphlet you would find at your doctor’s office, and it reads like that too. In it, Swift describes his “foolproof” plan for saving his Irish brethren from poverty. Basically, Swift believes that the Irish peasantry can alleviate their economic struggles by selling their children to the wealthy as food. Don’t worry, he knows what he’s talking about. He’s a doctor.

In all seriousness, Swift wrote this essay as a sharp criticism of the overall inhuman sentiments towards the poor in Ireland during the time (1729). He goes to great lengths to explain how it would be cost-effective to sell the children and even describes various preparation techniques for them. At this point he sounds more like a chef than a doctor, especially when he says “A young healthy child well nursed, 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 a ragout.” He continues on by taking jabs at the very people who would be feasting upon the children by saying “I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.” Not only was this was a hilarious essay, it also got the point across. It forced the people of Ireland to realize that the way their economy was set-up was detestable and that the only way things were going to improve would be if they banded together to lead an honest, more wholesome method without abusing anyone in the process.