Analysis Of A Modest Proposal - 939 Words

Dr. Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"A Modest Proposal† Dr. Jonathan Swift wrote A Modest Proposal in the 1700s, addressing the idea to feed the poor. In this he successfully mocks the heartless attitudes the Irish have toward the poor. During this time conditions have been worsening in Ireland. Dr. Swift uses understatements, irony, sarcasm, and paradox in his satire piece. Swift makes it clear that more often than not citizens were passive about the present problems. With that, he created A Modest Proposal in likes to shed light onto this upsetting topic. Dr. Swift uses irony in his article. Frankly, the entire title is ironic. â€Å"A MODEST PROPOSAL for preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country,†¦show more content†¦In which would hopefully get the wealthy’s attention. Also proving that none of the child would be wasted, and would in fact benefit most Irelands richer communities. The children are to be sold at 1 year of age. Poorer families would benefit from the money, and continue to sell their children to benefit Irelands economy. â€Å"...at most not above the value of two shillings , which the mother may certainly get, or the value in scraps, by her lawful occupation of begging; and it is exactly at one year old that I propose to provide for them in such a manner, as, instead of being a charge upon their parents, or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing of many thousands† (Swift 2). Dr. Swift is saying the typical beggar would not earn more than two shillings. But with his new method of gaining income for poor families, they would earn a lot more. Coupled with paradoxes, Swift practices sarcasm to let his opinion be known on the neglect. â€Å"For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the number of papists, with whom we are yearly over run, being the principal breeders of the nation as well as our dangerous enemies...† (Swift 8). Swift’s sarcastic â€Å"our dangerous enemies† is referring to Irish Catholics. Which, like most others, oppose strongly to this idea of bettering their economy. â€Å"I can think of noShow MoreRelatedAnalysis on a Modest Proposal1421 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish Commentary – Digression â€Å" A modest proposal† by Jonathan Swift is a rhetoric piece that satirizes the dismal political, social and economic conditions in 18th century Ireland. As a solution, the preposterous proposal suggests that the Irish eat their own babies; as it is logically viable, and economically profitable: a condition adhering to the rational mentality of the age of reason. Swift develops his argument on two levels: A seemingly intellectual persona, caricaturized on a stereotypicalRead MoreAnalysis of A Modest Proposal873 Words   |  4 Pages Jonathan Swift, the writer of the satirical essay A Modest Proposal, grew up and lived in Ireland during times of famine and economic struggles (Conditions). Growing up with a single mother and no father, Swift knew what hard times and struggles were like (Jonathan Swift: Biography). His essay proposes an easy solution to the economic problems going on in Ireland for both the wealthy ruling classes and the poorer classes, although his intention s and the meaning behind his words are not what wouldRead MoreA Modest Proposal Analysis Essay1465 Words   |  6 PagesA Modest Proposal Literary Analysis By J--- ----------- J--- ----------- Mr. H----- Period 6 2 May 2011 Jonathan Swift’s Use of Satire and Exaggeration 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 theRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of A Modest Proposal722 Words   |  3 PagesA Modest Rhetorical Analysis Since its original publishing in 1729, Jonathan Swift’s pamphlet â€Å"A Modest Proposal† has endured for its rhetorical complexity (and sheer satirical absurdities). Through judicious use of ethos (ethical appeal), logos (logical appeal), and pathos (emotional appeal), Swift crafts a sarcastic, insincere, overly embellished argument to address Irelands food shortage and economic crisis meant to simultaneously entice and repulse readers. His audience is explicitly asked toRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of A Modest Proposal 1863 Words   |  8 PagesRhetorical Analysis: A Modest Proposal In â€Å"A Modest Proposal,† Jonathan Swift provides a satirical exploration of the attitudes of the wealthy people towards the underprivileged and poor children in the society. Laymen and intellectuals during the late seventeenth century distributed political pamphlets containing different ideas throughout Ireland. In his essay, Swift utilizes some of the overlooked pamphlets during this period and develops an ironic proposal. As a colony of the British, IrelandRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article A Modest Proposal 1482 Words   |  6 Pages The article â€Å"A Modest Proposal† is a proposal made by a man named Jonathan Swift who is also known for Gulliver’s Travels which is another well spoken essay of satire. When the people of Dublin are suffering from poverty and overpopulation, Swift writes up a satirical hyperbole that mocks the heartless Irish attitudes towards the poor. The bottleneck effect of people was so dreadful that all the Catholic families of Dublin were not able to support their own children. Due to these conditions SwiftRead MoreModest Proposal Analysis Essay1122 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"A Modest Proposal† is an essay written by Jonathan Swift as a reaction to the social problem faced by the Irish in 1720’s. Swift’s daring dark and social satire and dark irony to make a statement in this literary work triggered the minds of the rich Englishmen and Irish landlords to question their actions towards the poor Irish people. By giving a drop of horror and barbarity sarcas tically, Swift was able to attack the practices of those who were seated in power and exploited the rights of the impoverishedRead MoreModest Proposal Rhetorical Analysis745 Words   |  3 Pageshim 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 exaggerationRead MoreA Modest Proposal And Candide Analysis792 Words   |  4 PagesJonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal and Candide, by Voltaire are the two parodies that ridicule man and society. The messages in these parodies are both gone for a similar kind of group of onlookers, the privileged society. In A Modest Proposal, Swift expounds on a conceivable answer for Irelands destitution and over populace. His work was pointed towards the English, grumbling of their abuse. He assaults the English for conservative issues of Ireland by proposing a detailed arrangement to utilizeRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of A Modest Proposal1111 Words   |  5 Pagespeople were having to live under. Jonathan Swift, an Ireland satirist, felt obligated to change the conditions that the people of Ireland and himself were living in. In a proposal, Swift uses extreme irony and exaggeration to bring attention to what he is truly trying to reciprocate to his audience. Through â€Å"A Modest Proposal†, Swift turns to the political leaders and the mistreated people of Ireland to offer his solution for the debt of Ireland, overpopulation, and general pride in one’s country