Modest Proposal

When did the surprise ending become clear in Swift's short story "A Modest Proposal"? And how successful was Swift in convincing a reader of the validity of the surprise ending? These points will be covered and critiqued in this paper.

At what point in the story did it become clear Swift would have a different ending?

When did it become clear that Swift couldn't possibly go any further in his grim, morally objectionable analysis of how to solve the problem of abortions, of hunger, of the economic problems in Dublin -- and numerous other problems? The answer to that question is to be found on the next to the last page of the story. That's when he begins to turn away from his own ghastly proposal.

When he writes, "But as to myself, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts…" the reader...
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