A Modest Proposal

“A Modest Proposal” is a short story by Jonathan Swift. In the story Swift talks about all the poor people who walk around town begging for sustenance for their children. He talked of it being a grievance and had a proposal for rectifying the issue. Swift proposes that parents who are unable to care for their children should sell them at around one year old. The children would then be used for food and clothing. He states that only a little over 100,000 children would be used of all the people in the Kingdom. Swift tells different ways the children can be cooked and how far they be stretched for dinner guests. He talks of his American acquaintance, who is experienced in the devouring of children, and the advice he gives about seasoning and tenderness of children in different age groups. He explains the costs will be great for the Kingdom and he has no personal interest since his youngest child and wife both surpassed the age to be a good candidate for this proposal. He just wanted to help his country.

I like how Swift used this wild story to get people’s attention on the overpopulation issue.  If you are going to treat the less fortunate people like they are less than human then this is kind of what it would be like. Instead of reproducing another mouth to feed you can just reproduce to feed the mouths of the wealthy and you can have a little change in your pocket too. It’s insane to me. The story is really out there but if you can get passed the crazy thought of cannibalism of infant then you can appreciate the good behind the words.