A Modest Proposal

First Reactions: When you started reading A Modest Proposal, when did it become clear to you that Swift was being sarcastic? What specific words, phrases, or ideas made it obvious that this was satire and not a serious policy proposal?

The Persona: Swift employs an unnamed narrator who comes across as a rational and well-meaning economist. How does this character enhance the satirical nature of the essay? How does the narrator's tone relate to Swift's true message?

Targets of Satire: Who or what is Swift ultimately critiquing in this essay? Think about the British government, Irish landlords, the affluent class, and even the Irish poor themselves—do you believe any group avoids Swift's criticism?

Shock as a Rhetorical Strategy: Swift includes deeply unsettling imagery to convey his point. Why might a writer opt to shock or disturb readers instead of presenting arguments directly? Do you find this method effective? Could it ever be counterproductive?

Relevance Today: Can you identify current instances where satire addresses political or social injustices? How does A Modest Proposal stack up against modern satirical works (like The Daily Show, The Onion, or political cartoons)?

Ethics of Satire: Are there boundaries that satire should respect? Do you think Swift crosses one in A Modest Proposal? Why or why not?

Tone & Irony: The narrator of A Modest Proposal presents his argument in a calm, rational, and even sympathetic tone. How does Swift use this detached, logical voice to create sharp satire? When did you first realize that the narrator's proposal wasn't meant to be taken seriously?

Target Audience: Who is Swift's intended audience, and how does the difference between the narrator's apparent audience (English policymakers) and Swift's actual audience shape the text's meaning?

Social Critique: What specific social, political, and economic issues in 18th-century Ireland is Swift addressing? How does pushing these issues to their most horrifying extremes act as a rhetorical strategy?

Dehumanization: The narrator often refers to Irish children using livestock and commerce language (e.g., "a child just dropped from its dam"). What does this dehumanizing language reveal about how the English ruling class viewed the Irish poor?

Effectiveness of Satire: Do you think satire is an effective method for promoting social change? Does A Modest Proposal evoke outrage, empathy, or something else in you as a contemporary reader? Why or why not?

Ethical Responsibility: The narrator briefly mentions other, more humane solutions before dismissing them. Why does Swift include this moment? What does it suggest about the commitment of those in power?