Brief Interpretation: A Modest Proposal 2. A Modest Proposal is a persuasive, satirical piece. The main purpose of this article is to convince the reader to side with the idea of selling and cooking children in Ireland. During this time, Ireland was immersed in poverty, so the author ironically attempts to convince the reader that eating children will be a solution to the people of Ireland. This piece is an extended satire because obviously the author’s proposal is implausible and irrational.
Satire in A Modest Proposal Satire is defined in literature as a particular way of using mockery, irony and comedy to ridicule and point out human follies and vices with the hope of making improvements in humanity, society, and its institutions. An example is, Swift’s A Modest Proposal, published in Ireland in 1729. It is an ironic essay which satirizes both England for abusing the Irish by manipulating its political economy, and the Irish themselves for accepting England’s abuse rather than taking responsibility for their own behavior. In the essay, Swift indirectly criticize and ridicule human behavior to bring about change. Jonathan Swift uses disturbing metaphors and irony to show his readers about the society during the time he lived and critique the attitude of the upper classes toward the poor.
As you continue reading and closely examining the work, it can be seen that every suggestion Swift makes is filled with sarcasm and mocking the English and Irish governments. Also in the very last paragraph of the essay when Swift says, “I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good of my country, by advancing our trade, providing for infants, relieving the poor, and giving some pleasure to the rich,” it becomes apparent that the entire work was a false proposition. The irony here can be mainly seen in
Persuading Everyone Jonathan Swift’s satire is effective in persuading readers to think critically about their society. In A Modest Proposal, he vents his mounting frustration about the incompetence of the English politicians, the hypocrisy and immorality of the wealthy, and the pitiful situation of the Irish beggars. Throughout the essay, his logical examples, structure, sarcasm and diction, and pathetic imagery combine to manipulate and entrap the reader into accepting the absurd solution of eating babies to assuage Irish penury. To begin A Modest Proposal, Swift exploits the reader’s capacity for pity. Swift’s vivid description of the condition of the poverty-stricken beggars immediately captures the reader’s attention.
Satire is a literary work in which the follies of its subject are attacked through irony, derision, or wit, usually to fulfill a corrective purpose. Those who satirize are called satirist’s. Satire is an art, and while making a point, it should do it in such a way that the reader doesn’t feel assaulted, or moralized. Swift does this by sarcastically proposing to the people that by selling the children of the poor and beggars to the wealthier families, as this will provide clothing, food, and will decrease the population of the kingdom. At this time in Ireland, there was extreme poverty and a gap between the poor and the rich, the tenements and the landlords.
How is the theme of blame explored in “An Inspector Calls”? Priestley explores the theme of blame in “An Inspector Calls” by using the Inspector as his main dramatic device. The Inspector is used to promote Priestley’s views and thoughts about class prejudice and the need of collective responsibility. He also explores the theme of blame through the use of the Inspector’s dialogue and language. He purposely uses powerful adjectives in his phrases, such as “burnt her inside out” and “she was in great agony”; the word “agony” is emotive because it suggests an extremely unbearable pain.
Critique: A Modest Proposal by Johnathan Swift A Modest Proposal is considered to be one of the greatest Satires of all times. Written by Johnathan Swift, an active political writer born in Dublin on November 30, 1667 to parents of English decent, A Modest Proposal masterfully employs use of many rhetorical devices to show Johnathan's frustration towards the Landlords and royalty of both England and Ireland for neglecting the increasing poverty and misery of people from his homeland. Although the text might sometimes seem confusing, offensive and over exaggerative to be taken seriously, even so the implications drawn with the help of language, tone and style more than sufficiently translate the deeper meaning of his message which is the need of improvement in Ireland's situation. Johnathan's labels and examples might sometimes perplex his audience due to their complex connotations and harsh generalizations. Looking at the wording in the article, much of the language used need explanation.
The Persuasive points of The Modest Proposal by Jonathon Swift , The persuasive use of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos can persuade a nation full of citizens to kill one another, if used correctly. In The Modest Proposal by Jonathon Swift, he announces an idea that would help alleviate his country from the burden of overpopulation, hunger, and sadness; but most would agree, his suggestion wasn’t so modest. Swift proposed to use the unwanted children, year of age and older, for repast and commonly used goods like boots and gloves. He backs his reasoning by citing other civilizations that practice cannibalism: promoting family values: and building the failing economy that his country was in. To be successful at persuasion, there must be facts to back your statement.
Swift uses development of character to show the development of not the narrator himself but the reader. The narrator demonstrates to the British Elite exactly the kind of tragedy they are causing Ireland using his proposition to what first appears as an inhumane solution to a national problem but in reality is just a mere reflection of the actions of the British Elite themselves. In conclusion, Jonathan Swift created a narrator in “A Modest Proposal”
I believe that writing has helped me in numerous ways, and I would recommend it to anyone who needs to release some stress. It is crazy to think that a simple assignment from seventh grade still influences me today. Though Mrs. Ford may not know it, she truly motivated me to keep writing. If it wasn’t for her I would have never been able to express my emotions in such the creative way I do now. I hope that after reading this, I too have motivated you to pick up and pen and paper and