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been "assured by a very knowing American... that a young healthy child is...a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked or boiled." The idea is so obviously appalling that the reader knows this essay must be a satire; however, there's no change in style from the beginning of the piece. The style remains educated and analytical. Later, it becomes clearer that this pamphlet is a satire, when Swift mentions that, "...[the English landlords] have already devoured most of the parents" (prg. 12). Throughout the pamphlet, Swift points out that the Irish are to blame for the poverty, but here he mentions that the English landlords are also partially responsible. Swift continues with a well thought-out list of reasons why the selling and eating of the infants of the impoverished is a good idea. He cites that this plan will "rid [the poor] of the charge of maintaining [their children]" (prg. 24) and give "the poorer tenants...something valuable of their own" (prg. 22). It will also promote marriage, as the fathers will certainly want to also profit from the sale of their children and it will prevent men from beating their wives, at least during pregnancy, "...for fear of a miscarriage" (prg. 26). Not only will this plan benefit the poor, all of Ireland will profit, as they will have a new commodity. Through his analysis, Swift shows his serious lack of faith in his fellow compatriots. The reader must wonder why Swift would write all this without actually having a reasonable solution.

Swift answers this by putting forth realistic solutions, and, although he dismisses them immediately, his change in style proves this to be the serious section. Swift prefaces the rational suggestions by saying, "Let no man talk to me of other expedients" (prg. 29). Swift shoots down solutions before they are even proposed. However, he continues with a brief list of these "expedients": "taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound; using neither clothes nor household-furniture except what is of our own growth; [and] utterly rejecting the materials...that promote foreign luxury" (prg. 29), among others. His rapid fire method of introducing these solutions is a stark contrast to the previous meticulous analysis. This notable change in form clarifies to the reader that we should now take Swift seriously, but despite this shift, Swift's conclusion makes it clear that he expects the better suggestions to fall on deaf ears. "I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work...I have no children by which I can propose to get a single penny...and my wife is past child-bearing." This is Swift's last attack on Irish ethics; in his opinion, the Irish will not do anything to better their society if it means a change in their own personal lives.

It is Swift's style, as well as the sudden shift in form, that makes A Modest Proposal so effective. The reader is compelled to continue reading so he may discover why the narrator would not only suggest such a morally reprehensible idea but also examine it in such meticulous detail. Then, the reader must question why the narrator would dismiss the realistic suggestions so easily; what is it about his countrymen that drives him to have so little faith in their ability to follow more logical advice? Although Jonathan Swift was born to an Irish family and has historically been considered a great Irish patriot, he considered himself an Englishman. Perhaps it was this lack of faith that drove him to denounce a country even as he fought for it.

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