Final answer:
The satire “A Modest Proposal,” which addresses poverty, was written by 1) Jonathan Swift. It uses satire to criticize British policy towards the poor in Ireland and remains a significant work of English literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The satire that addresses the issues of poverty, titled “A Modest Proposal,” was penned by the Irish writer Jonathan Swift in 1729. In this satirical essay, Swift uses irony and hyperbolic suggestions to criticize the British policy towards the poor in Ireland and the ruthless attitudes of the rich towards the destitute.
Swift sarcastically proposes that the impoverished Irish might ease their economic troubles by selling their children as food to the rich. This radical and shocking proposal is used to highlight the inhumane disregard for human life and the extent of the suffering of the poor.
Swift's work is a masterful example of satire, a literary genre used to ridicule or expose the folly and corruption of individuals or societies through humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule. His use of absurdity aims to provoke thought and spark discussion about the social and political issues of his time. “A Modest Proposal” is a seminal work in the world of satire and continues to be studied for its complex and incisive commentary on human cruelty and indifference.
In contrast to Swift's scathing satire, other writers like Mark Twain and Charles Dickens approached the topic of poverty differently. Twain, an American humorist, is known for his satirical portrayal of society in his co-authored novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, while Dickens provided a sympathetic depiction of the struggles faced by the poor and working-class in his novels. Each of these authors, in their unique way, contributed to the discussion on poverty and the need for social reform during their respective times.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is 1) Jonathan Swift. His landmark satirical essay, “A Modest Proposal,” remains one of the most powerful pieces of social commentary in English literature.