"A Modest Proposal" was written in 1729. While it is important to note the misogyny present within Swift's writing, it is equally as important to contextualize the essay. This means that we must take into account the time period in which it was written (the fight for women's rights was unheard of at this time). While this take on the essay can enrich our understanding of what life was like during the early 1700s, it should not make his criticism of society any less powerful.
