A Modest Proposal essay is an essay that responds to Jonathan Swift's satirical essay of the same name published in 1729 By satirizing the rampant poverty and social disparities in 18th century Ireland, Swift's essay mocks the English government's lack of response to aid the Irish people. In a Modest Proposal essay, writers engage in a similar type of satire, often taking a political or societal issue and proposing an absurd solution. The purpose is to poke fun at solutions commonly proposed to address the problem, ultimately criticizing society's attitude towards the issue.
Some of the best examples of Modest Proposal essay topics include:
1. Child Poverty: Propose a solution to the growing problem of child poverty that involves feeding children the remains of roadkill animals.
2. Gun Violence: Suggest a new gun control policy that requires all citizens to carry a firearm at all times and shoot anyone who does not comply.
3. Education: Advocate for a new approach to public education that involves testing students on the accuracy of their predictions on the stock market.
4. Climate Change: Offer an alternative plan to reduce carbon emissions that would involve investing in a fleet of airships to suck carbon out of the atmosphere.
5. Wealth Inequality: Propose a plan to redistribute wealth that involves taxing those earning more than $500,000 a year and giving the proceeds to those earning less than $50,000 a year.