A Modest Proposal is a biting satirical essay in which Jonathan Swift "proposes" that impoverished Irish families could ease their financial troubles by selling their babies as food to the rich. Written in 1729, this shocking and brilliantly ironic work criticizes British colonial rule and social indifference.
Swift's deadpan tone and exaggerated logic make this short piece a masterpiece of satire. Behind its dark humor lies a powerful critique of exploitation, injustice, and the failure of political solutions. It remains one of the most famous and disturbing essays in the English language.