While the work is famously known for its horrifying suggestion of eating Irish babies to solve the poverty problem, it's actually a thinly veiled critique of the English policies that were driving the Irish people into poverty and despair. Swift uses the absurdity of his proposal to expose the callous indifference of the English ruling class to the plight of the Irish.
Here's why it fits the bill:
* Satire: The entire work is built upon satire, using exaggerated and shocking scenarios to highlight the absurdity of the situation.
* 18th Century: It was published in 1729, squarely within the 18th century.
* Criticism of English Treatment: The entire premise of the proposal is rooted in the deplorable conditions imposed upon the Irish by the English government and landlords. This includes things like:
* Economic exploitation: Irish tenants were often forced to pay exorbitant rents and were subject to unfair laws that benefited English landowners.
* Social neglect: Swift points out that Irish children are left to starve and die, highlighting the lack of care and support provided by the ruling class.
* Political marginalization: Irish people were denied basic political rights and were treated as second-class citizens in their own country.
Swift's "A Modest Proposal" remains a powerful and relevant piece of literature, not only for its satirical brilliance but also for its unflinching indictment of the injustices faced by the Irish people under English rule.