John Swifts A Modest Proposal - 1151 Words

In Jonathan Swift’s satirical work, A Modest Proposal, the reader is presented with a horrible concept using extremely effective language and logos; Swift uses strong speech, rational tone, and complex grammar to convince readers that eating children will solve all the problems in 19th century Ireland. Swift’s overall goals in his pamphlet, however, is not to actually encourage eating babies, which is why it is of satire, but is instead to raise awareness of Ireland’s conditions for living, failing political figures, and the tyranny brought by England. Swift states in his sub-title, For Preventing the Children of poor People in Ireland, from being a Burden to their Parents or Country; and for making them beneficial to the Public†¦show more content†¦The idea is so intense that it demonstrates the overall irony of the piece. It is also worth pointing out that this line comes late in the essay. Swift lulls the reader into a false sense of trust by beginnin g with descriptions of the position of the poor in Ireland. The reader may think at first that this is a serious essay, making the point all the more loud when it eventually appears. The idea itself comes from a very knowing American, which is a small attack on the Americas and American colonies. Rhetorically, the first couple of quotes stated are the strongest in bringing attention to Ireland’s issues. It’s comical in the fact that he uses such a horrible idea to raise the red flags in the minds of the Irish people. In an earlier paragraph Swift writes, It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town, or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin-doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, ad importuning every passenger for an alms† (Swift par.1). This quote should be understood as a highlight to the poor living conditions of Ireland. The quote is interesting because Swift does two things in it; he continues building his satire, which is the world the reader will be thinking about, while nonchalantly hinting the underlining theme of poorShow MoreRelatedA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift860 Words   |  4 Pageswas informed to read â€Å"A Modest Proposal† by Jonathan Swift as an assignment for creating annotated bibliographies, I began to develop an interest on how Swift came about the matter of his request into rebuilding Ireland s economy and way of life. I believed that Swift added cannibalizing children to the subject matter to give his proposal a more profound and eye-opening effect, but my readings further piqued my interests on the topic. As a result, I researched Jonathan Swift’s motives and style behindRead MoreAnalysis of Jonathan Swift ´s A Modest Proposal Essay532 Words   |  3 Pagesaddressed this topic for years, raised money, volunteered, but still, as much as there’s said and done, the issue ha sn’t been fazed a bit. From Jonathan Swift’s Modest Proposal, he clarifies the poverty issued throughout Ireland in the early 1700’s and how one suggestion could change it all. Elaborated from the Literary Reference Center, â€Å"A Modest Proposal, like Gulliver’s Travels, transcends the political, social, and economic crisis that gave birth to it, woeful as they were. Packed with irony and satiricalRead MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift1766 Words   |  8 Pagesridicule political policies in a way that is humorous in its absurdity while masking its true intent. In A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift, the author’s use of exaggeration and irony to draw attention to the meaningless lives of the Irish people to English rule not only gives his work a wider audience but also serves as a furtherment of Swift’s typical derisiveness. A Modest Proposal comments on the harm caused by the Declaratory Act of 1720, an act that allowed Great Bri tain’s parliament toRead MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift1795 Words   |  8 Pagesridicule political policies in a way that is humorous in its absurdity while masking its true intent. In A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift, the author’s use of exaggeration and irony to draw attention to the meaningless lives of the Irish people to English rule not only gives his work a wider audience but also serves as a furtherment of Swift’s typical derisiveness. A Modest Proposal comments on the harm caused by the Declaratory Act of 1720, an act that allowed Great Britain’s parliament toRead MoreSwifts A Modeste Proposal1955 Words   |  8 PagesJonathan Swift’s â€Å"A Modest Proposal† name English 301 December 3, 20xx In â€Å"A Modest Proposal† (1729), Jonathan Swift used satire for a double purpose: to attack those that he considered responsible for the financial situation of Ireland, and in the same time, to push those who were in a position of power to take rational measures against poverty in Ireland. In his poem, Swift made use of the image of the Projector; a character whose role is that oRead More18Th Century Satire: A Modest Proposal Essay1397 Words   |  6 Pagescontemporary societal problems and provoke change within a culture† (Friedman). One of the world’s best known pieces of satire is Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal. This piece of work aimed to expose the flaws regarding poverty in Ireland and the overwhelming and suffocating influence of the British government and Irish land owners. Swift uses satire to explain his â€Å"modest proposal†; in other words, he aims to prevent the people of Ireland from viewing children as a burden. In his u se of satire, Swift placesRead MoreSatire in A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift745 Words   |  3 Pagesbased on the truth, as harsh and as brutal as it may be. Remember again, that it’s satire. Not objective unbiased news, though Fox news does seem to contradict that idea. A Juvenalian satirical essay A Modest Proposal, published anonymously by Jonathan Swift in 1729, presents a not-so-modest proposal to stimulate the Irish economy and end poverty: selling human child meat. Imagine having a child around a year in age waiting to be prepared and cooked, then eaten, all in the name of relieving Irish societyRead MoreAn Analysis Of Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift1777 Words   |  8 PagesArnel John Chester Gasic Professor Stricker GEW 101 November 3, 2015 The Irony in Cannibalism Humor in serious topics can bring the light side of things and can also bring more attention than just talking about them. In â€Å"Modest Proposal† written by Jonathan Swift, he uses humor to talk about the famine that was happening back then and proposes an economical idea. By using the word â€Å"Proposal† in his title, he gives a reasonably suggestion to aid the Irish, Swift mentions them one by one theRead More Contrast Between Satire in The Rape Of The Lock and A Modest Proposal1679 Words   |  7 PagesContrast Between Satire in The Rape Of The Lock and A Modest Proposal   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although Alexander Popes, The Rape Of The Lock and Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal are both witty satires, they differ on their style, intention, and mood. To begin, in The Rape Of The Lock, Alexander Pope uses Horation satire to invoke a light, whimsical, melancholy mood to illustrate the absurdity of fighting over the cutting of ones hair. In fact, Horation satire is defined by K. Lukes as a deviceRead More A Modest Proposal With A New Critical Approach Essay2055 Words   |  9 PagesA Modest Proposal With A New Critical Approach A Modest Proposal, by Jonathon Swift is very much an ironic persuasive essay. He is proposing the eating of babies as a way to help with poverty. Throughout the essay he makes many thought-out yet almost unthinkable arguments that support his proposal. You do however know he doesnt really want people to start eating babies. He is just trying to show a major problem in a shocking way. His arguments for the eating of babies are as follows: it would