Despite its power as a piece of rhetoric, A Modest Proposal did not lead to any lasting changes for Ireland's rural poor; and just over a century later, thousands would perish in the Great Potato Famine.

What did A Modest Proposal accomplish?

Presented in the guise of an economic treatise, the essay proposes that the country ameliorate poverty in Ireland by butchering the children of the Irish poor and selling them as food to wealthy English landlords.

What does swift gain from his modest proposal?

In the conclusion to his "A Modest Proposal" Swift explains to the reader that he has no personal gain from his proposal. He explains that he suggests it only because he wants to support his country and help the poor families living there.