A Modest Proposal
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Members' Rating:
from 21 Ratings and 3 Reviews
ISBN:0879759194
Description
In his 1729 essay A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift offers a scintillating parody of eternally popular cut-and-dry economic theory. To start, he describes, in heart-rending detail, the painful struggles of the poor in Ireland. The unsuspecting reader may be moved to great sympathy for these unfortunate souls and prepare him or herself for the solution to follow in Swift's "proposal." Much is promised, indeed. And yet, what follows is perhaps one of the greatest tricks ever played in literature. What does Swift propose? To reveal his "modest" notion would be unfair. Prepare yourself for intense feeling and shock. Swift's work is in the greatest tradition of satire, yet in the end so unexpectedly stunning that you must simply find out for yourself.
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Opening Lines (Experimental)
A Modest Proposal for preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick.
It is a melancholy object to those, who walk through this great town, or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the ...
Member reviews
3/5
Reviewed by Christiana on Apr 23, 2009
Modest indeedl
I had read this many years ago, so it did not shock me. However, it surely must have gotten through to readers when it was first published. Very clever and appropritate to critique with blatant satire. This must have rubbed some consciences raw, as it was designed to do.
4/5 
Reviewed by ahilborne on Apr 23, 2009
Quite interesting.
I've known of "A Modest Proposal" for a long time and I have appreciated the opportunity to read it. It only took a handful of episodes to finish it.
I would mark this down as "interesting" and I am glad to have read it. I can quite see how, at the time, it might have outraged some people -- the same people who don't "get" irony today, I would imagine. The basic premise is preposterous, but he then carries things to their logical conclusion, without missing a step.
4/5
Reviewed by rsdoiel on Feb 11, 2009
Satire is so fun
It's a shame Mr. Swift is around today to add his insights to today's crisis but then maybe that is why we have Jon Stewart.
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Ratings for 'A Modest Proposal' by Swift, Jonathan
| ahilborne | | Read review | 2009-04-23 |
| bekha16 |  | 2009-05-19 | |
| belleradio | | 2009-07-09 | |
| blondierocket | | 2008-07-28 | |
| Christiana | | Read review | 2009-04-23 |
| cresswga |  | 2009-03-09 | |
| ED_NYC | | 2009-07-05 | |
| EmgeeNL |  | 2009-09-01 | |
| FreePages | | 2009-03-11 | |
| jakobmuller | | 2009-03-29 | |
| jogrebe | | 2009-03-30 | |
| kahmron_says | | 2009-07-15 | |
| mmreyna1 | | 2009-06-19 | |
| readingrat | | 2009-06-04 | |
| rodmitch | | 2008-12-19 | |
| rsdoiel | | Read review | 2009-02-11 |
| Severius | | 2009-08-15 | |
| shellym1614 | | 2009-02-16 | |
| trisapeace | | 2008-08-23 | |
| Vonini | | 2009-04-01 | |
| wsimpson3144 | | 2009-06-24 |
A Modest Proposal
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