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There is no doubt that "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift portrays the character and spirit of the Neoclassical Period in English literature. This short essay will therefore attempt to highlight features of neoclassical period in the article.

One, It should be noted that one of the major genres of literature of the Neoclassical Period was the satire. There are different levels of satire embedded in the work. There are satirical attacks on the political and religious institutions of the then English and Irish societies. The major thrust of the proposal itself is centered on the political institutions or the government who cannot curb the rapid growth of poverty and the excesses of the rich landlords who feed fat on the impoverished conditions of their poor tenants. Swift therefore proposes that the children of the poor tenants should be sold to the rich landlords for their delicacies.

Two, since there was a general distrust in innovation, writers of the Neoclassical Period dwelt on the imitation of the classical works. We see this lack of ingenuity which paves way to imitation in "A Modest Proposal". True to this style, Swift imitates the biting satire of the popular Roman satirist, Juvenal to correct the ills in his society.

Again, one of the general tenets of the neoclassicists was that the work of art must be capable of rendering both pleasure and instruction. There is no doubt that as a satire, "A Modest Proposal instructs us in a very pleasurable manner.

Furthermore, one of the temperaments of the neoclassical works was that they centered on man in relation to his universal experience and the society. For this reason, in "A Modest Proposal" Swift carefully mocks at the human habits and attitudes and the institutions that form them. He also mocks at the irrationality of man and the greedy and the oppressive tendencies of man.

He also mocks at colonialism which is a tool of oppression and religion which has divided the people rather than uniting them. It should be noted that at the time when the article was written, Ireland was a vassal colony of England. In other words, "A Modest Proposal" is a satire on man and this subject is in consonance with the temperament of the Neoclassical Period.

Another temperament of the neoclassical period portrayed in "A Modest proposal" is the vanity and idleness of the 18th Century English society. Ironically, what Swift seems to be saying is that it is a sheer vanity that makes a nation rise up to "eat" another nation. So, he offers a modest proposal where this action can then be enacted physically.

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