An Analysis of Jonathan Swift and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Stylistic Devices

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In a satirical essay, Swift uses Rogerian strategy along with other rhetorical tactics such as specific diction, nuclear emphasis, and multiple double meanings to effectively surface the horrific treatment of the Irish by the English aristocracy. Rogerian strategy focuses on the “open exchange of ideas directed toward mutual understanding” with emphasis on conceding certain points to gain an understanding of the opposition and in doing so gain ground rather than losing it through a hostile exchange of right and wrong (Cooper/Patton 70). Swift carefully organized his essay so the audience, the English Aristocracy, would not recognize it as satire and dismiss it right away. Swift begins with a quasi-believable tone, one of an economist trying to solve a problem. The current “deplorable state of the kingdom” calculated by Swift consists of one hundred twenty thousand children who need to steel and beg just to remain alive (Swift 298). Many before him tried to provide useful solutions but failed. The Irish now left with nothing but what the English give them suffer mass oppression, the real issue Swift wishes to address.

Swift establishes a mutual understanding with the English from the beginning, an essential part of the careful construction in his essay. He cannot let on the essay will take a dramatic turn after the flip of the second page. Swift does this because he wants to give the impression that he shares the same views on the current condition of the kingdom. He wants the English aristocracy to identify with him and his views. When he states “ I think it is agreed by all parties…” in the second paragraph and in the fourth “As to my own part…maturely weighed the several schemes of other projectors but have found them grossly mistaken in their computation” Swifts uses a small bit of Rogerian strategy (Swift 298). First he agrees with them on a small point so they are not hostile when later he states their past proposals have miscalculations. This bit of Rogerian serves the purpose of warming up the audience so they get used to agreeing with Swift and having an open mind to new suggestions much like an opening act does for the nights main act. Swift continues to warm up the audience by recognizing that these children are “a charge upon their parents” but more importantly to the English “a charge upon…the parish.” All the “warm...

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...eyes and feel sorry for him as well as all the black community suffering from segregation “I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else can one do when he is alone in a narrow jail cell…” (King 314).

Both of these essays are well written but this is not the reason they are studied today. Swift’s “Modest Proposal” has survived over two hundred years of students studying it and taking apart his argument. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” has survived twenty years and most likely will remain around for quite some time. The fact that the two essays are well written keeps only keeps them in the same ballpark as other well-written essays. It is the subject matter with which they address that keeps academia from letting them slip away into the stacks with all the other well written essay’s. These essays deal with the issues of dehumanization, a deep-rooted issue that has gone on since the beginning and will hopefully subside with the help of authors like these. We commend these authors everyday of every year by using their work to educate the youth of today so that they will soon grow into the leaders of tomorrow.

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