A Modest Proposal Rhetorical Analysis

Furthermore, Swift also creates a strong argument throughout this essay, with the use of logos; appealing to logic and his use of statistics. Swift states that the “number of souls in this kingdom…of these I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand couples who wives are breeders”; furthermore proposing that an infant can be sold for “two shillings per anun” and “with eight shillings net profit the mother will also benefit and be fit for work to produce another child.” Another quote that implies the reader of his logic and reason , is when he states in these lines that an infant’s flesh can be seasoned throughout the year “with a little pepper or salt…especially in the winter.” He also states that the carcass

From the beginning, irony is immediately displayed through the title of the text, A Modest Proposal. Modest means to be moderate and the proposal stated is anything but. The irony of this title serves to display to the audience how “moderate” this plan is in comparison to what the government was presently doing which was basically nothing in Swift’s eyes. Throughout the introduction, the speaker introduces the problem -- overpopulation and poverty -- and presents a solution. He mentions children in passing, which later on becomes a large part of his “proposal” to help Ireland. Swift cites that a significant part of the problem in Ireland is the struggle to provide for the evergrowing population and in order to solve this, children -- specifically newborns to a year old -- should be sold to the upper classes as food. He describes that “a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food..” (Swift, lines 70-71). This solution would lessen the pressure for the state to provide for them in addition to other benefits that Swift later expresses. This hyperbolic suggestion serves to express Swift’s viewpoint on the actions of the upper class to solve the issues that Ireland was enduring. He was implying that their

Although the use of incongruity is used to seize attention through a sarcastic view, another way Swift uses satire to grab England’s attention is through reversal. Reversal is used by Swift to switch the roles of babies to pigs, to emphasize the idea that these babies taste like pig. It is expressed in the text where the author points out, “I rather recommend buying the children alive and dressing them hot from the knife as we do roasting pigs” (Swift 99). This piece of text is evident of how Swift makes the point of having children served similar to pigs makes it sound serious, yet sarcastic making his point more clear to the reader with hidden meaning. The way Swift places reversal in the text makes it clear to England of how insane he may seem, but for a cause. This effective way of satire is undeniable of how Swift achieves his idea to bring poverty to an end to Ireland.

Ireland encountered a devastating famine in consequence of the war that was broken by Oliver Cromwell and his armies. The Irish rebels that were against the English rule and the Hierarchy were overthrown and executed by Oliver Cromwell. Beyond just conquering Ireland, Cromwell’s army contaminated the land by burning their land. This Irish problem became a social issue in England and widely spread throughout the whole country due to numerous anonymous pamphlets. The regulation of print and what people printed was very little that this period was called ‘the great age of pamphlets’. Thus, a lot of essays came out anonymously this period as people felt safe to write their opinions more freely. In fact, that Swift’s ‘A Modest Proposal’ was first released anonymously as well. Swift wrote this essay in a perspective of a principal English gentleman who has an impressive solution to solve the poverty of Ireland to make fun of the pamphlets that were being circulated during the period. The word ‘modest’ in the title and his word choices throughout his essay highlight his satire by mocking the false modesty of the pamphlets. Their subjects may have been seemed reasonable, but their proposal displayed an arrogance that was common in British ruling class toward the Irish subject.

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 Swift’s content, he uses rhetorical devices such as pathos, logos, and ethos. Jonathan Swift intelligently uses pathos to play a huge roll on people’s emotion in an effort to convince them of the legitimacy of his argument, “… and butchers we may be assured will not be wanting, although I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs,” (689). Logos appeals to the logical thinking of the audience is introduced in support of his case. Swift gives the logical portion by using numbers to show how many unfortunate babies would meet their demise yearly, “… the hundred and twenty thousand children, already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only one fourth part to be males… one male will be sufficient to serve four Females. That the remaining hundred thousand may at a year old be offered in sale,” (689). Ethos was shown when he talked to high authority people about the situation, “Infant's flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March... For we are told by a grave author, an eminent French physician… there are more children born in Roman Catholic countries about nine months after Lent,”

“I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs” (A Modest Proposal). Comparing the children to roasting a pig shows that the children do not mean that much to anyone and they can just be burned alive and no one would care. He also uses the word “flesh” generally to refer to the children when they’re being served and eaten which is an animalistic association (A Modest Proposal). Usually human children would not be referred to as “flesh” or “pigs” at all. This, again, reflects upon how England and the Irish ruling classes treated the people of Ireland, especially the less fortunate. Other words Swift has a tendency of using are “breeders”, “males”, and “females” (A Modest Proposal). It’s not common to hear these words in regard to a human being especially coming from a priest. More directly with his wording, Swift speaks of the landlords in a negative manner. “I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents…” (A Modest Proposal). This statement shows the way the English landlords would take every penny their tenants had. England and Ireland’s wealthy class did not care for their people what so ever, and Swift’s satire was very effective in proving these points.

Swift then nullifies distorted calculations of his own as an attempt to “humbly propose [his] own thoughts”(8). The reader is likely stunned and disgusted when finally the enlightenment of Swift’s idea is blatantly provided “…a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked or boiled…”(9) The writer creates a shocking diction through the use of revolting details: “I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do pig roasting.”(16) which likely leaves the reader feeling detached and

In A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift, Swift writes about a solution to the poor and starving people in Ireland in 1729. His solution is to fatten up the poor kids and sell their meat to the rich. Swift backs up his opinion with data and statistics that support his solution. All the rescreach and numbers almost makes the solution seem like a real solution. However, this is an extreme version of satire. While most people who read A Modest Proposal recognize the satire, other works do not make it so obvious. Satire can be used in many different types of ways and it can be the driving piece in a novel. Satire is mostly used to exploit problems in social or political issues. In A Modest Proposal, Swift is using satire to put the political issues

In ‘A Modest Proposal’ the author, Jonathan Swift utilizes techniques such as satire, sarcasm, and irony to create a bigger picture to the reader. Within the poem, Swift not only presents a humorous approach to social and economic issues but does so in a well-constructed and carefully composed manner. A closer reading of the text reveals a deeper critical analysis of the social perceptions of the poor at the time. Through Swifts’ use of irony, he creates a proposal that is so extremely absurd that some may believe the piece to be genuine. By taking an issue and providing a corrupt and merciless solution, the writer uses a unique approach to catch the attention of the people of Ireland and presents them a proposal they cannot ignore. Through the use of irony, Swift creates a poem that not only criticizes social perceptions of the poor but also remarks upon the issue without directly addressing the reader.

Thinking/Talking/Writing Points Swift “A Modest Proposal”Background: Swift wrote this ironic piece in reaction to poverty and overpopulation in Ireland, as

In a “Modest Proposal” Swift expresses his grief as well as irritation of Ireland’s politicians, the hypocrisy of the wealthy, the tyranny of the English, and the degradation in which he witnesses the Irish people living. While Swift explains how England continuously exploits Ireland, he also expresses the utter disgust he finds in the inability of the Irish to help themselves. Swift mourns and shows compassion for the Irish people but critiques both for the issue at hand. (Sparknotes). Through this ironic essay of surprises and shocks, swift challenges the reader consider and critically analyze policies, motivation, and moral values. Jonathan Swift states in the essay that

Swift proposes that “instead of being a charge upon their parents, or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall…contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing of many thousands (Schilb & Clifford, 2014, p. 64).” According to the research done by Dr. Jonathan Swift, children deplete resources and money like a sponge absorbs water once they are two years old. As a result, the infants should be fattened up during their first year in this world and then sold for profit. Swift’s plan kills two birds with one stone. Overpopulation will be an issue no longer, and by selling the children to the upper class, Ireland’s economy will be booming. The structure of this argument is so compelling that many readers automatically agree with the mass slaughter of thousands of innocent children. If the author had not used such an authoritative tone full of conviction, the reader would have automatically disregarded the immoral proposition to open a market for the consumption of children. Throughout his proposal, Swift included an abundance of satire, which becomes blatantly obvious once the mirage of an informative solution fades. In conclusion, A Modest Proposal presented readers with a far-fetched idea comprised of nonexistent statistics delivered in a convincing, authoritative tone that made the slaughter of thousands of innocent infants

Secondly, the poor will have the money necessary to pay for rent, and provide food for their tables. He is stating to the audience that the people of Ireland need to do something to counter attack the oppression from England. Thirdly, the nation will save money since it will not have all those poor people to support. Fourthly, the reproduction of children will be dramatically less and the expense burden to the parents will be only in place for a year. Fifthly, the mother’s love and care for the children will increase, since they will have monetary reason for the well-being of the children which later on will provide a profit. Swift is trying to express that if a child that is loved and cared for and is given an opportunity to become a good citizen, receives a good education, it will be a vital asset to the nation in the long run. Lastly, he declares that he does not have any children to sell in order to earn the cash, nor his wife is able to have children, for that reason he does not have any personal interest to the proposal acceptancy, except for public good, the nation, relieving the poor and providing pleasure to the rich( Swift, 1729)

His use of diction relating to livestock as well as his cold, calculated tones and constant appeals to foreign authority mirror and comment upon the elite?s absurb rationalization for their abuse and exploition of the dredges of society. He constantly likens beggers to animals, even comparing children to ?sheep, black cattle or swine? and even speaking of them interms of ?fore and hind quarter?s. His tone is so disturbingly uninvolved and methodical that he is able to calculate exactly how many meals a baby will serve and even pictures cannibalism as a socially acceptable occurence when ?entertaining friends.? Throughout the piece Swift constantly seeks to jusify his proposal by mentioning the suggestions he has received from his influential friends in foreign countries. This illustrates that the narrator?s mind is even farther removed from the immediate crisis and famine. As people read through the passage, Swift is able to sneakily encourage people to question the authority of their elitist leadership.