In determining how infant flesh will be distributed among the rich, Swift states: "I grant that this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very suitable for owners who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title for the children” (3). It is very difficult for poor families to pay for the necessities of life, and one of a family's largest expenses is rent. A common phrase used today to refer to anything that appears to be excessively expensive is "costs an arm and a leg." This is a very similar idiom to the one Swift uses in his proposition when he says the parents were "devoured." When readers who struggle to earn enough money to take care of their families see this idiom, they may become outraged that they are no longer seen as people. Those who are not poor may have mixed reactions to the dehumanization of poor parents; They either fall in line and view the poor as meat, or they believe that all people should be treated equally, regardless of income. Readers realize that the parents are not literally eaten by the landlords, but it puts into perspective how much they have to give to receive housing. Swift uses these emotional appeals early in her essay to encourage readers to differentiate and add a personal touch to her essay.