1. By Jonathan Swift – A Brief Historical Context
A Modest Proposal
By Jonathan Swift – A Brief Historical Context

2. A few historical notes:
Ireland was suffering through a terrible famine in the 18th century
Poor Irish families got paid next to nothing, and paid increased rent to greedy landlords
Poor Irish weren’t allowed to build houses or cultivate land of their own
Britain restricted land use in Ireland
Many members of wealthy class were Protestants who feared that Catholics would take power. Who else is Catholic? The poor Irish.
England was not enacting effective solutions to the dire situation in Ireland.
“A Modest Proposal” is one of Swift's most scathing works