Although written for a worthy cause (PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), many readers find this satirical vignette by Neil Gaiman very disturbing. The story provides a modern take on Jonathan Swift’s infamous 1729 satirical essay A Modest Proposal, which advocated solving an Irish famine by having the very poor sell their babies to the rich: A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled… OMG! Themes include greed, animal cruelty, sustainability, hubris (the superiority of man).
Babycakes Text / PDF / Audio (350 words)