Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal

Here are some contextual notes to help you understand Swift's essay:

• English abuse of Ireland

• England conquered Ireland

• English nobility became the landlords/land owners

• This created a financial drain for the Irish - their rent money was funneled into the English economy

• Irish were not allowed to own land

• Irish starved despite large food production that was exported to England

• Irish crops suffered, creating a famine

• Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

• Born in Dublin but studied in England
• Ordained a priest in the Church of Ireland, the Irish branch of the Anglican Church (Church of England)
• Often used satire to affect social change
• Most famous works:
• Gulliver's Travels
• A Modest Proposal 

• Ireland during Swift's time

• Many were writing pamphlets with proposals to solve the "Irish Problem." 
• After a number of his own proposals, Swift decides that the English might finally listen to his Modest Proposal 

FOR PREVENTING THE CHILDREN OF POOR PEOPLE IN IRELAND FROM BEING A BURDEN TO THEIR PARENTS OR COUNTRY, AND FOR MAKING THEM BENEFICIAL TO THE PUBLIC

Samuel Johnson's "Spring"

No. 5. TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 1750

Et nunc omnis ager, nunc omnis parturit arbos:
Nunc frondent sillvæ: nunc formosissimus annus. VIRG. Ec. iii. v. 56.

Now ev'ry field, now ev'ry tree is green;
Now genial Nature's fairest face is seen. ELPHINSTON.


    EVERY man is sufficiently discontented with some circumstances of his present state, to suffer his imagination to range more or less in quest of future happiness, and to fix upon some point of time, in which, by the removal of the inconvenience which now perplexes him, or acquisition of the advantage which he at present wants, he shall find the condition of his life very much improved.