Question

Paragraphs 21-28 detail the advantages of Swift’s proposal. What criticisms of society are implied in these paragraphs?

Answer 1

In these paragraphs from A Modest Proposal  (1729) by Jonathan Swift, the author focuses his criticism on the Irish upper classes.

First of all, Swift criticises the absenteesm of the Irish landlords, who lived abroad so the economic profits of their property would not remain in Ireland, improving the English economy.

Second, Swift criticises the ruling class and their political incompetence to build a viable national economy. Swift satirices their failure to see the citizens as the most valuable resource for the country through his portrayal of them as literal commodities.