This was not my first encounter with A Modest Proposal, and I am always struck by the unique commentary it offers on historical circumstances. Especially considering the popularity of contemporary satire like The Daily Show and The Onion, it's interesting to consider its relevance both then and now. Swift's proposal of killing and eating babies effectively drew attention to an important social issue--the poverty in Ireland--and also influenced the entertainment we appreciate today.
It's especially interesting to consider Swift's own biography when reading A Modest Proposal. When I first read this piece, I did not realize Swift himself was born to a single Irish woman. This fact only emphasizes the obscurity of Swift's proposal, intensifying the ironic elements of the tale: in essence, Swift suggests that babies in situations similar to his own be executed for meals.
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