A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift Response questions

1. “A Modest Proposal” is an ironic essay: the author deliberately writes what he does not mean.  What is the real thesis?  Is there more than one?He doesn’t really mean that people should eat babies he is just making fun of the horrible living conditions and basically saying, “wow there really is no future for anyone so there is no point in bring anyone eltes into this world if they have to live the way things currently are.     

3. When does the reader begin to realize that the essay is ironic?  Before or after the actual proposal is made in paragraph 10?   I think its pretty oblivious that he is just kidding like right way because who could honestly be serious about eating babies.

4. Which groups of people are singled out as special targets for Swifts’ attack?  Are the Irish presented completely as victims, or are they also to blame? I think that the most of the blame is to the government, but I also think that he points some of the blame to the people for not really trying to do anything to seek change.

 5. Does the essay merely function as a satirical attack?  Does Swift ever present any serious proposals for improving conditions?  If so, where? I don’t think that he really means any of his suggestions, however I don’t think that he strongly believes that a change need to be made in order to improve living conditions.

8. If you were, conversely, given the job of marketing babies, do you think it could be done, and how? We have a tradition, in English, of keeping the French names for the meats of animals eaten primarily by the rich. Would the first step be calling baby meat something French? Would it be by processing the baby to the point of non-recognition? I think it would have to be called something besides baby meat. I don’t think baby meat sounds so appealing to anyone so that would defiantly have to change. After that it would have to be possessed in such a way that it would no longer be recognizable to the general public. That way people wouldn’t be able to attach any human emotions to the meat.