A Modest Proposal Precis

In Jonathan Swift's, "A Modest Proposal" (1729) he suggests that by "preventing those voluntary abortions" and selling poor and begging kids to a meat market at age one it would solve Ireland's problem with unwanted and burdening children, "...a young  healthy child well nursed is at  a year old a most delicious, nourishing and wholesome food..." (9). Swift explains his reasoning by giving statical data about the benefits of selling unwanted children as meat, "... I believe no gentleman would repine to give ten shilling for the carcass of a good fat child, which, as I have sad, will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat..." (13). The author writes this troubling essay to influence the Irish to start caring about their issues and solve the economic problems in their society, like instead of buying good from London, start making them in Ireland. Using a serious and underlying satirical tone, Swift hopes the Irish will become aware that London is abusing them, and motivate the Irish to care enough to take a stand.