While the title suggests a proposal to solve the problem of poverty in Ireland, the actual content is a biting satire that ridicules the English policies that led to the widespread poverty and suffering of the Irish people.
Swift's "modest proposal" is to sell Irish babies to the wealthy English as food, arguing that this would solve several problems: reduce poverty, provide a new food source for the wealthy, and benefit the Irish economy.
The absurdity of the proposal highlights the cruelty and indifference of the English towards the plight of the Irish. By using such a shocking and outrageous suggestion, Swift exposes the hypocrisy of the English government and its disregard for the well-being of the Irish people.
While *A Modest Proposal* is a fictional piece, it's a powerful critique of the real-life conditions of Irish tenants under English rule. Swift's work remains relevant today as a reminder of the dangers of systemic inequality and the importance of addressing social injustices.