A Modest Proposal Rhetorical Analysis

A modest proposal by Dr. Jonathan Swift demonstrates acts of satirical devices which help develop and better his piece. Swift uses sarcasm throughout his piece, which keeps you hanging on and makes you want to keep reading to see why he does this. Swift also uses invective, he uses this in his piece by saying things that are contradicting, only to add strength to what he is supporting. Lastly and most important, Swift uses understatement and minimizes the situation of cannibalism and makes it seem like it is an everyday thing and that it isn’t a big deal.
Sarcasm helps satirical pieces in many ways. It keeps the reader wondering why the author has these thoughts and makes them curious so that they will be engaged and continue to read the piece. Swifts piece demonstrates this when he says “But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known, that they are every day dying, and rotting, by cold and famine, and filth, and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected” (Swift 4). This cruel and evil quote shows sarcasm because he is saying he doesn’t care and feels nothing for the kids that are dying, then gives reasons that are so bad that he has to feel some sympathy for them. This keeps

the reader wondering, why? How? Which makes them continue to read the piece.
Invective is also an important part of a satirical piece.

Swift also uses this to strengthen his position and overall piece. He uses phrases that will attack what he is supporting or denounce it to actually show and support his position. Swift uses this satirical device when he says “Men would be as fond of their wives, during the time of their pregnancy, as they are now the mares in foal, their cows in calf, or sow when they are ready to farrow; nor offer to beat or kick them (as is too frequent practice) for fear of a miscarriage” (Swift 5). He continues to degrade humans and compare them to animals, but this is strengthening his position. Because people there eat humans like people eat animals so he is referring to how they think of animals as

food.
Understatement is one of the most used satirical devices in this piece because. Swift thinks and believes that cannibalism is not a big deal so he talks about it casually but to us, it is a big deal and very illegal so it keeps us interested and makes us want more. For example “ A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt, will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter” (Swift 3). This shows that he is talking casually and acting like it is no big deal to eat humans and have them for meals at parties and for dinner, which seems completely bizarre to the audience.
Overall this is a well-crafted piece by Dr. Jonathan Swift. He uses these satirical pieces in ways that are not obvious but if you look for them you can find them, which makes this piece more interesting, It keeps the reader engaged throughout and that’s what you look for in a good piece of writing, being able to follow along with the writing and be able to pull out useful information that helps more develop the piece.