Jonathan Swift wrote “A Modest Proposal" to call attention to abuses inflicted on Irish Catholics by well-to-do English Protestants. Swift himself was a Protestant, but he was also a native of Ireland, having been born in Dublin of English parents. He believed that England was exploiting and oppressing Ireland. Many Irishmen worked farms owned by Englishmen who charged high rents—so high that the Irish were frequently unable to pay them. Consequently, many Irish farming families continually lived on the edge of starvation.
In this passage Swift points out the fact that it was common knowledge ehat was happening in Ireland. "But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known, that they are every day dying, and rotting, by cold and famine, and filth, and vermin..." The obvious lack of concern of the people of England for the plight of these men, women, and children is perplexing to Swift. This is brought out by his sarcasm when he stated that "I am not in the least pain". It is his pain that causes him to write and place the impetus on the nation to act.
I do see a correlation with this prose and today's society. It is seen in the homeless on our streets, in the alcoholic, and the drug abuser. Many believe themselves to be better than these because they chose not to do drugs, because they have a job, or because wouldnever sttop that low. All too, often these men and women are cast off by our society. Phil Collins in his song, "Another Day in Paradise", tells of a homless woman who asks a man if he knew where she might sleep on such a cold night. To this he walks on and pretends he can't hear her. Sadly, this has become America's forgotten ones.
