This little Child Went to Market

In the essay “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift, irony is present throughout. Swift claims to have a plan that will help the financially struggling families of Ireland and the country as a whole. Swift proposes that to relieve the financial stress, children as young as one year old must be slaughtered. He states “I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or girl before twelve years old, is no saleable commodity, and even when they come to this age, they will not yield above three pounds, or three pounds and half a crown at most, on the exchange.” This statement completely ignores the potential of a child to do more laborious tasks as they grow older and stronger. These children he plans to kill may become very profitable and contributing members of society, lightening the burden on their families and country. Swift is obviously attempting to help a struggling family and country but actually, this could make the financial struggles of Ireland and the families significantly worse without promise of thriving future generation.