The use of detailed satire through A Modest Proposal
The use of detailed satire is very evident in A Modest Proposal. A writer’s hand
that brings the reader’s eye to the effect of sociopolitical policies on the Irish by the
English landlords and politicians in the early 1700s, could have only belonged to
Jonathon Swift. Swift skillfully addresses “ the suffering caused by English policies in
Ireland ” as well as holding the Irish accountable for their “passivity.”
Swift begins by using a gradual egression, setting the tone of the current situation
in Dublin, only to shock the reader at his proposal of cannibalism, specifically of young
children, to help alleviate the economic burdens imposed by the English and accepted by
the Irish.
In laying the foundation for his proposal, Swift suggests the benefits for all:
But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the
children of professed beggars; it is of a much greater extent, and shall take in
the whole number of infants at a certain age, who are born of parents in effect
as little able to support them as those who demand our charity in the streets.
Swift continues on, using excruciating detail, suggesting preparation for dining,
the appropriate number of dinner guests the young child will feed, and the price of such a
feast. All the while this morbid suggestion is detailed rationally. Swift brilliantly
targets the English landlords when he addresses the price of the food, and how it is
appropriate since “as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to
have the best title to the children.” Swift’s use of detail purposely takes the reader away
from the proposal to show the examples of how cannibalism has worked elsewhere, only
in a satiric effort to show the reader this is not the way to improve the city of Dublin.
The build-up of this proposal continues to its conclusion where Swift has taken the reader
to the actual expedients, although rejecting them for no hope of them ever being
In addition, the wit that is contained within “A Modest Proposal” is astonishing and superb. Although some have taken “A Modest Proposal” seriously and actually thought that Swift was trying to propose to boil infants and eat them. The reader cannot yield that seriously and if the reader does then it would co...
Satire is a technique used in literature to criticize the faults of society. An excellent examle of contemporary satire is Kurt Vonnegut's novel God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. The author tells the life of Eliot Rosewater, a young and affluent man troubled by the plights of the poor. Eliot is the President of the Rosewater Foundation, a sum of money worth approximately $87 million. Using this position, he does everything he can to help the poor. This charity giving is socially unacceptable to the wealthy, particularly Eliot's father Senator Lister Ames Rosewater. Vonnegut uses caricature, irony, and tone to satirize the lack of care the rich have for those socially "beneath them."
He wanted to shock his readers by proposing his “modest” proposal. He presents selling babies as food to reduce overpopulation. This causes the reader to disregard this suggestion. Swift wanted to raise awareness on the issue that was haunting Ireland. Throughout A Modest Proposal, Swift effectively uses verbal irony, diction, and sentence structure to achieve his purpose of making people realize that there are problems in society that need to be handled in a reasonable manner.
Swift, Jonathon. "A Modest Proposal." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. 2633-639. Print.
Swift begins his argument by stating his view on the situation and displaying his annoyance. He states, "It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town or travel in the country when they see the streets, roads, and cabin doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning every passenger for an alms" (Swift 1). He uses melancholic imagery for the readers to sympathize with the suffering children and to understand their situation. Similarly, Swift displays his disgust for the wealthy by stating that "There is likewise another great advantage in my scheme, that it will prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children… which would move tears in the most savage and inhumane beast" (1). He talks about abortion and shows how ghastly and disheartening the practice is. Clearly, Swift makes use of pathos to slowly gain the reader’s confidence in preparation for his appalling proposal. He knows that many will be emotionally affected by his proposal because no one would want their own c...
Furthermore, Swift logically lays out numerous additional rewards if his proposal is implemented. Over nine sound examples of benefits support Swift’s use of logos in “A Modest Proposal.” As unorthodox as offering one’s own infant or even eating one, Swift does not make it easy to say no. Swift also provides a logical example of an invalid counter argument to his proposal.
The writer assumes a calculating, but warm persona which genuinely wishes to help Ireland. This persona of his is established through his usage of logos and his desire to change Ireland. He is a Irish writer who went to oxford, and lived in Ireland. His ethos is very solid because of his heritage and his education. He shows good will, humility, and likeability. These traits can be seen through his desire to help his country, his selflessness, and his humbleness. He takes a very logical approach to solving the problem and has an overall serious tone. He uses a very logical approach to solving the problem and has a very serious, but passionate tone. His way of thinking is ...
The intended audiences of the essay “A Modest Proposal” are the rich and the poor people of Dublin, Ireland. According to Swift, the poor people of Dublin are the “beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning every passenger for an alms” (1). Swift wanted the mother of these children to know this so that the mother would
In the first few paragraphs of the Proposal, Swift characterizes the proposer as a sophisticated, civilized, and educated gentleman to relay the ostensible purpose of the proposal. The first few paragraphs manipulate syntax and are entirely devised of long-winded sentences explaining the situation in Ireland. The proposer presents his proposal of importance that he deserves “his statue set up for a preserver of the nation” (Swift 2633). Swift is emphasizing the proposer’s pompous tone; this proposal, according to the proposer, is a revolutionary solution to the problems of “the kingdom” (2633). Swift’s creation of the proposer’s opinions towards the “melancholy object” (2633) of the beggars of Ireland, mainly of Catholic religion, mirror those of the absentee landlords, causing an identification with the proposer and...
In “the Modest Proposal,” Dr. Jonathan Swift uses mockery as an element of satire to describe his plan to put all the useless kids of Ireland to good use, by raising them as food for wealthy citizens. This is much like the artist Jaron and the Long Road Home who ridicules his ex- girlfriend in the song “Pray for You” in a mocking manner. The two works also mock religion. Although they have both have this in common, there is a distinctive difference in the two: “the Modest Proposal” is dark and horrific, while “Pray for You” is light and humorous.
...ion. Saying even though Irish people are the enemy, it's best to have a few of them to help advance the economy and the countryside. This is also ironic because the writer doesn’t even accept that the concept of eating one-year olds is morally wrong.
One of the other voices that are present throughout the entire story is that of sarcasm. Right from the first paragraph Swift attempts to fool his readers by the sarcasm of the dreary scene that Swift presents. For example, he mentions that it is a melancholy sight to see beggars and their children on the street. The sarcastic paradox in this statement is whether it is a melancholy object for him, having to see homeless people every day, or for the beggars lifestyle? Upon first reading this one may be led to believe that Swift is a compassionate writer attempting to feel the pain of the beggars. But as the story continues, a reader can look back and note that he is using a sarcastic tone and the only sad sight that he sees is the fact that people of his status have to deal with commoners. It is a good combination that makes the reader think twice about any other statements, and the voice used, after the first paragraph.
“A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift, is an essay that uses satire. Merriam-Webster defines satire as: a way of using humor to show that someone or something is foolish, weak, bad, etc.: humor that shows the weaknesses or bad qualities of a person, government, society, etc. “Satire may make the reader laugh at, or feel disgust for, the person or thing satirized. Impishly or sardonically, it criticizes someone or something, using wit and clever wording—and sometimes makes outrageous assertions or claims” (Cummings, 2012). Swift, best know for “Gulliver’s Travels”, originally wrote this piece as a pamphlet in 1729 under the full title ”A Modest Proposal: For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick.”
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Today I joyfully welcome you all to the University of Queensland’s open forum on satire in society, in particular the topic of satire in Jane Austen’s novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’. The oxford dictionary states that satire is: The use of humour, irony, exaggeration to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues (Oxford Dictionary). Satire is an effective method of getting a message across to an audience, often persuading them to see the creator’s point of view. “Fools are my theme, let satire be my song” by Lord Bryon, an English poet and politician is a perfect example of satire, for it suggests that Lord Bryon enjoyed making fun of the foolish people in his society; therefore, he used satire to ridicule them because they either didn’t understand or they were too ignorant to actually believe that he was talking about them. Another example of satire is Pride and Prejudice – specifically chapter one, Austen uses techniques such as satire and sarcasm to mock both middle ...
James Joyce chose Dublin not only as the setting of his short stories, more importantly, he wanted to “show the paralysis of the psyche, society and politics of Ireland”. (Daniels, 2) In the “Selected Letters of James Joyce”, Joyce clearly suggested that “[his] intention was to write a moral history of [his] country and [he] chose Dublin for the scene because that city seemed to [him] the centre of paralysis. (Thwaites, 14). Colonized by Britain for 800 years, Dublin and its people were constantly under political and religious oppression. Other than “[speaking] to the world about the paralyzed and dependent situation of the Irish people under English oppression”, Joyce intended to “[invent] a unified Irish society that could resist” the force through his short stories in “Dubliners”. (Thwaites, 11, 1) Various aspects of Dubliners will be explored to investigate how Dublin is described as city of paralysis, including the depiction of...