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Jonathan Swift Immodest Proposal

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Swift 's purpose is to shock his readers with his very "immodest" proposal. In Ireland at this time, there is extreme poverty, overpopulation, and an unfair balance of trade with Great Britain. He suggests that the Irish should sell their children as food to reduce the overpopulation and poverty. Of course, the reader is aghast at such a suggestion, and Swift 's purpose is to glean this reaction from the reader. He wants us to know that people should not be dehumanized as a number but should be treated with kindness and compassion.

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