Question

I do therefore humbly offer it to publick consideration, that of the hundred and twenty thousand children, already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only one fourth part to be males . . . . That the remaining hundred thousand may, at a year old, be offered in sale to the persons of quality and fortune . . .

–“A Modest Proposal,”
Jonathan Swift

Whom is Swift criticizing in this passage?

wealthy people who exploit the poor
farmers who foolishly breed animals for food
children who will not perform useful labor
readers who believe whatever Swift says

Answer 1

In this passage from "A Modest Proposal," Jonathan Swift is criticizing wealthy people who exploit the poor. He uses satire to highlight the dire poverty and exploitation of the Irish people by the wealthy class. By proposing the absurd idea of selling children as food, he draws attention to the lack of empathy and concern that the wealthy have for the suffering of the poor.