A Modest Proposal Rhetorical Analysis

In 1757 Jonathan Swift wrote A Modest Proposal; a satire telling the public that the answer to the economic problem was to eat their own children (Lynch). According to Merriam-Webster, satire is “trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly” (“Satire”). Satire uses humor, exaggeration, parody, and ridicule to expose folly in society or a person and advocates for some sort of change. Satire is broken into three different forms: Juvenalian, Horatian, and Menippean satire. Satire is typically thought of as funny or humorous, but this assumption only covers Horatian or Menippean satire; this leaves out Juvenalian.

The satirical essay “A Modest Proposal” written and published in in 1729 by an Anglo- Irish man named Jonathan Swift, in response to the worsening conditions of Ireland, was one of his most controversial and severe writings of his time. The narrator in Swift’s essay “A Modest Proposal” argues for a drastic and radical end to poverty in Ireland. Swift’s proposal suggests that the needy, poor people of Ireland can ease their troubles simply by selling their children as food to the rich and make them useful, benefitting the public. With the use of irony, exaggeration and ridicule Swift mocks feelings and attitudes towards the poor people of Ireland and the politicians. However, with the use of satire Swift creates a

The sarcastic views of Swift’s understanding of the poverty of Ireland leads him to make a proposal for a solution to poverty, where he ignores the concern of human morale by displaying the lacking efforts of England to help. Swift uses methods that work to get or help better understand a situation, for example being sarcastic in a situation where a person wants something out of the situation by satire. The undeniable effect of satire catches the attention of England to further display the poverty of Ireland which is displayed throughout Swift’s Modest Proposal with exaggeration, incongruity and reversal.

Satire is a form of literature in which an author tries to demonstrate his or her point of view by ridiculing. The author uses heavy irony and sarcasm in order to criticize a social issue. A perfect example of a work of satire is Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal. In this satirical essay, Jonathan Swift attacks on the issue of the Irish poverty in the 1700s. The essay sarcastically suggests that Ireland’s social and economic problems would be quickly solved by putting the children of impoverished Irish families on the food market. Through heavy exaggeration, Jonathan

While one child receives a new gadget, another receives even more hunger. Although that truth is difficult to swallow, the reality is that there are a few children born into wealth and many others into extreme poverty; worst part is that the vast majorities of those children later lack even the tools to change their situation. An even more gruesome reality is the one that Jonathan Swift faced when he wrote his Modest Proposal in his native Ireland. Besides the lack of wealth, there were many issues such as mothers who were not allowed to work for their needs, or the handcuffing feudal system. Then there was the discussion of how the greed of today is literally destroying the Earth and our children in the process. Such that the children cannot share their gadgets in one country and others share their little food in another country. But Jonathan did say he was open to any other ideas, maybe our present time has the tools to end this inequality. If nothing

Throughout Jonathan Swifts essay, A Modest Proposal, there seems to be a tone of satirical bitterness towards the English government for colonizing Ireland and then neglecting its citizens to live in such dire conditions. This bitter tone seems to suggest that the English’s unwanted interference and neglect has not transformed the Irish people into “civil” citizens, but instead that it has evolved them into the “barbaric” and “animalistic” people they were once accused of being.

After reading A Modest Proposal, I had mixed feelings about Jonathan Swifts story. I noticed almost immediately after starting the story that Swift utilized humor. In addition, the era that Swift was writing his story in was a time of crises for his country, Ireland. Consequently, this could have resulted in many people writing letters on how they could improve the country. Therefore, in my opinion, I think that that his proposal was just a satire piece out of frustration. Irony also had a key role in this work. This can be seen with the title of the story, A Modest Proposal, as his plan is anything but modest, and additionally can be better linked to barbaric. I was also amazed at how much detail that Swift put into writing his proposal.

In Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”, he imposes that the impoverished and “unmaintained”(6) children of Ireland are “impossible to provide for”(6) and need to “be made useful members of the commonwealth”(2). He aims to influence readers by using subjective, convoluted language in order to establish his proposal that will “solve” the dystopia throughout the Kingdom.

In the satirical writing "A Modest Proposal", the narrator describes a solution to a widespread problem. His suggestions in the writing are meant to shock and disgust the reader. As a result, these aspects add to the overall mocking tone towards governments' handling of poverty. Throughout the entire essay, Swift uses large hyperbole and utter ridiculousness to create a mockingly trivialized answer to a difficult problem and bring it to light.

When a writer decides to use satire in an essay, the author uses different components such as: humor, ridicule, irony, and sarcasm in order criticize and prove a point. Jonathan Swift uses sarcasm and harsh irony in order to criticize or disapprove social issues. Jonathan Swift is the author of “A Modest Proposal”; this is the perfect example where satire is used. In this essay, Jonathan Swift is unhappy with the current situation of the Irish who are going through hard times facing poverty and they are being exploited by the English. ”I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted,

Jonathan Swift, a writer, satirist, and clergyman during the period of Irish Catholic economic oppression in 18th century Ireland, used his platform to create the essay “A Modest Proposal”, which took advantage of manufactured ethical and strong emotional appeals, to spark political reform and rectify his broken country. After the initial shock of reading Swift’s essay, the intent behind it is clear; it is a work of satire. The most prevalent technique Swift employs in this work is his authoritative tone, brought on by his use of a dialect, known as “king’s english”, and his immense vocabulary. An example from the text shows this clearly as he states, “Whereas the Maintainance of an hundred thousand Children, from two Years old, and upwards,

In the satire essay “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift, he talks about great ideas for controlling the population of poor people in Ireland. His idea involved eating the children of the poor to help relieve them of the extra burden of caring for a child. He does a great job poking fun at a subject some might find touchy. His skills in satirical writing clearly shine through his great essay. Jonathan Swift was the author who best used writing craft to convey meaning because of his skills in reversal, incongruity, and exaggeration.

A Critical Analysis of Irony in “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift Jonathan Swift was an Irish essayist, satirist and poet. He wrote numerous works, many of which dealt with Irish/British political tensions and religious issues. His best known works include “A Modest Proposal” (1729). In “A Modest Proposal” Jonathan Swift proposes a satirical/ironic solution to a social and ethical problem.

Many authors use satire to poke fun at certain issues to expose and call awareness to it. One author that has a history of using satire in his novels and other literary works to indulge the reader deeper into the meaning of his writing is Mark Twain. By using satire, he humorously draws attention to some issues faced in American culture and other places around the world. A perfect example of his use of satire is his novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain’s widely read novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn uses satire as a tool to expose a few key issues faced in America, which are organized religion, violence in American culture, human ignorance and gullibility.

Satire is constantly evolving in order to maintain with the times. As technology, culture and humanity change and grow, satire is forced to grow with it. Satire of our modern time is more likely to be found on our phones than on print, more likely on a television than a telegram. By merging with pop culture, in forms of Family Guy and Comedy Central news shows, these forms of satire are able to stay relevant. But, despite the change in medium, the purpose of satire and effect of satire holds true. Modern satire, just as that of past satire, sheds light on the problems of our society through ridicule and mockery, without reinforcing and further cementing the stereotypes and prejudices they are trying to expose.