“A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift is set in Dublin, Ireland in the 18th century. The narrator is a very ironic character. His “modest” proposal is anything but modest. This short story takes place during a famine. Since there has been a famine, Swift proposes the idea that people sell their one-year-old children to the rich so that they will not be a burden on their families. An important way in which the author grabs the audience's attention and tries to help his readers see deeper political, moral, and social truths and issues through his use of irony. “A Modest Proposal” is a satire that aims to help contemporary readers of Swift recognize how brutal cold and calculating rationalism is when used to solve social problems such as poverty and overpopulation. In this short story, the narrator is an ironic character. He is an ironic character because he seems blind to the terrible moral suggestion of his proposals. The narrator's proposal favors economic progress rather than caring about the people he is talking about. This ironic narrator would make statements that seem purely economic without appearing to realize the horrific nature of his statements (Shmoop editorial team “A Modest Proposal Analysis”). His “modest” proposal is anything but modest. It's wild, scary and even insane. He suggests that his proposal is modest and humble, rather than a ridiculous and audacious solution. His views become even more ridiculous when he states that he sees no objection that could possibly be raised against his proposal. "The crux of Swift's satire is his supposedly realistic attitude towards solving the problem which is obviously not very realistic at all" (Mazzeno "summary...... middle of paper...... eating during the famine. Cummings, Michael J. “A Modest Proposal Study Guide.” Cummingsstudyguide.net, 2005. Web May 13, 2014. Natagh, Samar “A Modest Proposal and the Irish Potato Study Aid.” , March 14, 2008. Web. May 13, 2014 Mazzeno, W. "Summary." Enotes.com, 2010. Web. Porter, Janie ""Swift' Ironies in "A Modest Proposal""" Victorianweb.org. University, Fall 2003. Web. May 12, 2014. Shop Editorial Team. “A Modest Proposal Analysis” Shmoop University, Inc., November 11, 2014. Smith, Nicole “Irony and social criticism. in "A Modest Proposal"" Articlemyriad.com Article Myriad, December 6, 2011. Web May 13, 2014Swift, Jonathan Adventures in English Literature. Austin: Holt Rinehart Winston, 1996. Print