Question

But, as to my self, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal, which, as it is wholly new, so it hath something solid and real, of no expence and little trouble, full in our own power, and whereby we can incur no danger in disobliging England.

–“A Modest Proposal,”
Jonathan Swift

How does Swift use satire in this passage to criticize society?

He suggests that people are foolish because they are unwilling to spend money to solve problems.
He shows that the people of Ireland would be better off listening to the English.
He suggests that people are so old-fashioned that they will not listen to new ideas.
He implies that the English care so little for the Irish people that they will not object to using Irish children for food.

Answer 1

Correct answer: He implies that the English care so little for the Irish people that they will not object to using Irish children for food.

Explanation: Swift’s proposal is ironic and deliberately outrageous — he’s not seriously recommending cannibalism but using shock, hyperbole, and sarcasm to condemn English indifference and cruel economic/political policies toward Ireland. The speaker frames the plan as “no expense” and “no danger in disobliging England” to show how little the English value Irish lives. The other choices misread the satire: Swift isn’t mainly criticizing Irish thrift, urging obedience to England, or complaining about resistance to new ideas.