16. What is Swift's main purpose in his essay "A Modest Proposal"? a) He wants people to consider his plan as a solution to poverty b) He wants to force the government of Ireland and England to help the poor of Ireland. c) He wants to demonstrate his skill in the new form of satire. d) He wants to encourage the poor to improve their living conditions. 1

Jonathan Swift's essay "A Modest Proposal" is a satirical work that criticizes the British government's neglect and exploitation of the Irish people. In this essay, Swift suggests an outrageous solution to the problem of poverty in Ireland: that the poor should sell their children as food to the rich. This proposal is not meant to be taken literally; rather, it is a satirical device to highlight the dire situation of the Irish people and to criticize the British government's policies. The main purpose of Swift's essay is to use satire to draw attention to the plight of the Irish people and to criticize the British government's lack of action. Therefore, the correct answer is option c) He wants to demonstrate his skill in the new form of satire.