JONATHAN SWIFT ON THE LIVES OF THE POOR NATIVE IRISH AS SEEN THROUGH “A MODEST PROPOSAL” AND OTHER OF HIS WRITINGS

Abstract

This article focuses on Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” and other of his writings that were prompted by the unsustainable socio-economic and geo-political conditions under which the poor native Irish were living. The article begins with introductory comments and then moves to conditions in Ireland when Swift was writing that contributed to his strong concern for the native poor. Next is provided a summary of “A Modest Proposal” and consideration of what drove Swift to the extreme he reached in the essay. Following this, Swift’s writings are explored as indicators of his opinion of political arithmeticians, and conclusions close the paper.