Essay A Modest Proposal
A Modest Proposal Analysis
Jonathan Swift’s 1729 essay “A Modest Proposal” demonstrates how the writer uses satire to enlighten the reader on the critical state of Ireland, at that time. In the essay, Swift suggests that the poor should sell their children to the rich so that they can “contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing, of many thousands.” Swift doesn’t simply want the poor to pay attention but wants to point his chagrin towards the politicians as well as the catholic citizens. Swift wrote his essay during a time where there was political and religious turmoil in Ireland, using sarcasm and extreme exaggeration as a way to point how hypocritical these institutions are towards the problem.
Swift mentions several of what he …show more content…
Although the conditions are not optimal he tries to distance himself from the negative and even goes as far as to suggest why his proposal wouldn’t benefit him and in at the same time pointing out the hypocrisy in which he himself is partaking. 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. I have no children by which I can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past child-bearing.” Conveniently, his proposal wouldn’t affect anyone in his family so clearly he must be doing it solely for the purpose of aiding the country.
Conclusion:
Jonathan Swift’s uses satire, sarcasm and a brute dehumanization of children to suggest an inhumane and ridiculous solution to fix the deplorable state of Ireland. Throughout the essay “A Modest Proposal”, Jonathan Swift lets us visualize the extremes that the country is in and in turn suggesting another extreme as a solution and exposing the hypocrisy of the privileged people of
Jonathan Swift’s 1729 essay “A Modest Proposal” demonstrates how the writer uses satire to enlighten the reader on the critical state of Ireland, at that time. In the essay, Swift suggests that the poor should sell their children to the rich so that they can “contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing, of many thousands.” Swift doesn’t simply want the poor to pay attention but wants to point his chagrin towards the politicians as well as the catholic citizens. Swift wrote his essay during a time where there was political and religious turmoil in Ireland, using sarcasm and extreme exaggeration as a way to point how hypocritical these institutions are towards the problem.
Swift mentions several of what he …show more content…
Although the conditions are not optimal he tries to distance himself from the negative and even goes as far as to suggest why his proposal wouldn’t benefit him and in at the same time pointing out the hypocrisy in which he himself is partaking. 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. I have no children by which I can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past child-bearing.” Conveniently, his proposal wouldn’t affect anyone in his family so clearly he must be doing it solely for the purpose of aiding the country.
Conclusion:
Jonathan Swift’s uses satire, sarcasm and a brute dehumanization of children to suggest an inhumane and ridiculous solution to fix the deplorable state of Ireland. Throughout the essay “A Modest Proposal”, Jonathan Swift lets us visualize the extremes that the country is in and in turn suggesting another extreme as a solution and exposing the hypocrisy of the privileged people of