A Modest Proposal | Characters & Character Analysis

A Modest Proposal Important People

Children

The author proposes that Irish society begins a trade of selling children for meat. He argues beggar women fill the Irish streets and although they earn some money, they have to spend most of it on their children. The majority of those children grow up to become criminals and a problem to society.

A friend of the author states that he knows children under the age of six who are already proficient in the art of stealing. Abortion in a Catholic society such as Ireland is out of the question.

The author proposes a better idea that would help the economic situation, the parents, and the children where society should breed children for meat. The mother's would not only benefit financially from the sale of their child, but they would become fit enough to work. In addition, their husband would stay at their side, happy in the knowledge they will...
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