Question

In this excerpt from "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift, which important issue does the writer deal with using a satirical tone?

Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed; and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken, to ease the nation of so grievous an incumbrance. But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known, that they are every day dying, and rotting, by cold and famine, and filth, and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. And as to the young labourers, they are now in almost as hopeful a condition. They cannot get work, and consequently pine away from want of nourishment, to a degree, that if at any time they are accidentally hired to common labour, they have not strength to perform it, and thus the country and themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come.

Old, sickly people cannot be hired as laborers because they don't have the physical stamina required for the job.
Old, sickly people and young laborers are useless to the nation because they cannot be productive citizens.
The economy of the nation is burdened by the poor, the old, and the sickly who survive on charity and handouts.
The living conditions of the poor and their lack of employment opportunities are serious concerns for the nation.

Answer 1

 The issue showed in this excerpt of A Modern proposal is poverty, and the author deal with it satirizing the economy of the nation and the responsibility of the government to take care of sick and old people that are not able to work and be productive.

  These people become a burden to the nation, that does not want to deal with them but hide the poverty, by saying they are concerned about the poor people.

Answer 2

Answer:

Old, sickly people and young laborers are useless to the nation because they cannot be productive citizens.

Explanation:

This is the idea that Swift satirizes in this passage. He tells us that the rich, productive people of the country are worried about the fate of the old, the sick and the poor. However, they are worried because they consider them a burden. He asks us not to worry, as the old, the sick and the poor are constantly dying off because of vermin, famine and filth. This means that the problem solves itself, and we do not need to worry. He is mocking the fact that these people are considered "useless" because they cannot be productive citizens.