Satirical works of Kshemendra (study)
by Arpana Devi | 2017 | 60,954 words
This page relates ‘Summary of A Modest Proposal� part of the study on the Satirical works of Kshemendra: an 11th century poet from Kashmir, who composed three satirical works. Kshemendra himself says that in composing the satirical works his only motive is to reform the mindset of the people.—He exposes all the vices and follies prevailing in the society with the intention to reform it.
8.7. Summary of A Modest Proposal
A Modest Proposal is another popular satiric essay composed by Jonathan Swift. In 1729, the work was published in pamphlet form. The work satirizes the politics of his time. It is a sharp or acute satirical work of Swift. The title of the work itself is satiric.
The work contains both mockery and skepticism. In the work, Swift gives a real picture of Ireland. The author makes a calculation that in the country, approximate hundred and twenty thousand poor children are born in a year. For him, it is quite impossible to bring up such number of children in the country like Ireland. He narrates that the poor mothers are compelled to involve in begging for upbringing their children, who are later on either become a thief or leave their own country because they have no work to do. Therefore, the author gives an odd proposal that if the poor children of Ireland are eaten up, then it will be helpful in preventing them from being burden for their own country as well as to their parents. The proposal of Swift is a fierce comment on England’s legal and economic exploitation of Ireland. Ireland was controlled by England during late seventeenth century. They exploited Ireland by charging heavy taxes. The work is an illustration of Juvenalian satire.