Selection Test Review: A Modest Proposal

Selection Test Review: A Modest Proposal

A Satire

Problem

The great number of poor is causing a problem. The children from ages 1-8 are the biggest burden. The elitist have devised a solution. The poor families can sell their children for food.

How does it solve the problem? Those that buy the children (who would normally put them to work, but would not see a profit because they would have to take care of them) would make the children into "delicacies" or a finer culinary experience. The families could use the money from the children to live off of or use the children to pay rent.

The Narrator

He proposes the solution, but ensures that he is not to benefit from it. His children are too old to sale and his wife cannot have any more children.

He calls the poor "breeders" to dehumanize them. It will make it easier for the rich to consider the solution and find children "appetizing".

His proposal to presented as a means to help the poor in Ireland even though we find it appalling.

Children are "liable to distress" means that landlords are demanding rent when the poor families do not have the money because they have to feed the children. Offering the children as rent will help ease the stress. The satire addressed here shows that the landlords are cruel and demanding and this is the only way to appease the situation (how absurd!) instead of addressing the way landlords treat the poor.