Final answer:
'A Modest Proposal' by Jonathan Swift is a satirical critique of the British government's negligence towards the Irish poor, using the idea of cannibalism as a metaphor for the exploitation and inhumane treatment of the impoverished.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exposition of 'A Modest Proposal'
'A Modest Proposal' by Jonathan Swift (1729) exposes a satirical critique of the British government's treatment of the Irish, offering a hyperbolic solution to poverty and overpopulation through cannibalism. Swift's work is a biting satire, using shock and absurdity to draw attention to the dire situation in Ireland and the British government's failure to address the suffering effectively. While the text may seem at first glance to be a serious proposal to alleviate economic and social issues, it is instead a platform for Swift to criticize societal attitudes and government policies. The essay does not discuss the Irish potato famine directly as that event occurred later, and it is not a fictional story about a wealthy Irish landowner.
In the broader context, Swift's proposal aims to underline the inhumanity of how the ruling class treats the impoverished. By suggesting that the poor might as well raise their children to be sold as food for the rich, Swift ironically attacks the cold calculations of economic theories and policies that disregard human suffering, such as those associated with Malthusian thought. The pamphlet is a form of social commentary, extending beyond Ireland’s struggles to criticize wider issues of exploitation and moral decay in society.