Editing A Modest Proposal (section)

===Tertullian's ''Apology''===
James William Johnson argues that ''A Modest Proposal'' was largely influenced and inspired by [[Tertullian]]'s ''[[Apologeticus|Apology]]'': a satirical attack against early [[Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire|Roman persecution of Christianity]]. Johnson believes that Swift saw major similarities between the two situations.<ref name="Johnson_p563">Johnson, ''Tertullian and A Modest Proposal'', p. 563</ref> Johnson notes Swift's obvious affinity for Tertullian and the bold stylistic and structural similarities between the works ''A Modest Proposal'' and ''Apology''.<ref name="Johnson_p562">Johnson, ''Tertullian and A Modest Proposal'', p. 562</ref> In structure, Johnson points out the same central theme, that of cannibalism and the eating of babies as well as the same final argument, that "human depravity is such that men will attempt to justify their own cruelty by accusing their victims of being lower than human".<ref name="Johnson_p563"/> Stylistically, Swift and Tertullian share the same command of sarcasm and language.<ref name="Johnson_p563"/> In agreement with Johnson, Donald C. Baker points out the similarity between both authors' tones and use of irony. Baker notes the uncanny way that both authors imply an ironic "justification by ownership" over the subject of sacrificing children—Tertullian while attacking pagan parents, and Swift while attacking the mistreatment of the poor in Ireland.<ref name="Baker_p219">Baker, ''Tertullian and Swift's A Modest Proposal'', p. 219</ref>