A Modest Proposal Rhetorical Analysis

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

Swift writes that he promotes “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.” The irony within this is that Swift says he would rather give pleasure to the rich, when in reality, that is the last thing he would want to do. Swift also stated that his proposal is from “the sincerity of his heart”. This is to make sure his audience will not question his proposal, as they might feel as though the only reason Swift is doing this, is to profit from it. Overall, the last paragraph was to end using irony, further cementing his proposal into the minds of the

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.

In “A Modest Proposal,” Swift suggests that women should sell their children as food instead of struggling to support them. Jonathan Swift not only uses rhetoric to dehumanize the women and children throughout the proposal, but he uses his sarcastic tone, his insincerity, and the idea of how ridiculous the proposal is to make his argument not serious. Jonathan Swift illustrates the poor living standards in Ireland as well as the corruption in the social classes within “A Modest

Throughout this piece Swift uses ethos, pathos and logos to further prove his point of children being a burden to their poor parents and country and by getting rid of them great things can come out of it such as food, clothing and accessories for people. He uses the rhetorical devices to add logic, emotion and credibility to his plan. Johnathan Swift’s purpose for writing “A Modest Proposal” is to inform the public of a solution to Ireland’s poverty in a comedic way.

The speaker is a Protestant member of the Irish upper class, being Protestant in Ireland would also imply that the Swift sympathizes with the British that ruled over Southern Ireland at the time.  The British are oppressing the poor of Ireland greatly. The Irish who need to remove themselves out of this fallacious situation, leads him to his proposal, even though he claims sympathy for the predicament of the poor Catholic population which is the majority. Therefore he also holds an arrogant opinion of them, believing they are expendable since they are not bolstering themselves out of this dismal situation. He is vigorous to itemize the advantages of his proposed project for the elite, who would likely be called upon to execute it. Swift implicates

A Modest Proposal is a deeply ironic and humanistic essay by what it denounces. Swift proposes that the poor of the country sell their children aged one year to those who will be able to afford this "delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food". This provocative proposition denounces the selfishness, inhumanity, and injustice of political economy: if the poor are devoured, figuratively, by politicians and the rich, as well as propose that they are also literally. Exclusion becomes ingestion. It also reveals a certain conception of the human being whose reason and common sense are doubtful.

In addition to the use of Irony,Swift also uses appeal to emotions in his essay to make the people reading his context to be ashamed of themselves.In the very beginning of the essay,Swift states how "it is a melancholy object to those, who walk through this great town,when they see the streets,the roads and cabin doors crowded with beggars of the female sex,followed by three,four,or six children " (Swift 1-3).The author talks about the many beggars and undernourished citizens who are "forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants" (Swift 5-6) which immediately makes the readers lament the fates of these poor mothers and children.By stating the terrible sight that one would see in the streets of Ireland,the author is able to make the reader feel the terror,which would evoke a sympathy in reader's mind.In addition, the author makes use of harsh and bitter words to address the citizen such as "bastard children"(Swift 31).Swift also states that "a young healthy child well nursed makes a delicious,nourishing ,and wholesome food whether stewed,roasted,baked or boiled." (Swift 62-63),which he considers to be "somewhat dear,and therefore very popular for landlords,who,have already devoured most of the parents"(Swift 79-80).The author is cleverly using these horrific words and imagery to make the people,especially the rich citizens of Ireland,who in any manner have not shown any sign of humanity towards the poor,to feel

Jonathan Swift wrote A Modest Proposal, and showed that Ireland had an issue with famine and overpopulation. His proposal essay was very gross and disgusting, but it solved the issue that he was conveying. Swift’s piece is effective because children are vulnerable, it creates mental pictures, and it accuses everyone in their society.

“A Modest Proposal” uses ironic and cruel humor to target Ireland’s corruption and poverty. Jonathan Swift bizarre way of announcing his discontent in regards to the British and how Ireland is going down the hill, makes his audience uncomfortable but aware that there is an issue. Subsequently, Swift presents the idea of selling babies as food in order to stabilize the country’s condition. Morbid as it sounds, Swift continues to deliberately explain why this idea would be the perfect solution by stating that these children and their parents begging are “a very great additional grievance” (Swift, 2) and furthermore continues to state that the country should fine a way to make these children ‘useful’. Throughout the text, Swift makes a serious argument on why

In the literary work of A Modest Proposal, one of the better examples of satire in literature by Jonathan Swift he writes as a concerned citizen to the Irish poor, which he describes in detail about their suffering. Swift often refers to the economy of Ireland as being unsutible for its people due to the fact that Ireland is over populated. Swift argues that the problem they are having is poverty in Ireland and describes his remedied on how it can be stopped. His work shows how savage, insane, and frightening it could be for the people of Ireland. From his work he allows many details about alienation. One of the points where this becomes about is how he takes the stand for the poor Irish people and shows how in society they have been alienated

Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal is a satirical essay that sardonically uses an outrageous solution to the massive poverty in Ireland. He proposes this lengthy idea of eating children as the solution to the society’s problems. His serious yet hyperbolic and satirical style allows Swift an approach to get people engaged in the difficulties the Irish had to do to survive their everyday life. This essay explores Swift’s ability to use literary devices and how these techniques advance his idea about the lack of morale by asking: How and to what extent does Jonathan Swift use satire to highlight the heartless attitudes of society towards the poor Irish families in A Modest Proposal?

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 Modest Proposal. One of the most polarizing essays written in recent times. Whether or not the peasants of yesteryear fell for the consumption of their children is a discussion to be had another time. Because now we discuss, not if Mr. Swift aimed to eat our kids, but how Mr. Swift aimed to relieve poverty and aimed for equality for his people. Now at face value, Swift lays out the horrid conditions that plague the poor of Ireland.

The world we live in, especially Europe, has seen and will continue to see many writers who are very critical of their government and its current its economic and political state. None however match up to the critical writing of Johnathon Swift. Swift writes about how the Irish government is in a poor state, both economically and politically. He writes about the poverty rates and how it is affecting woman, especially. Swift goes on to explain how the poverty rate is hurting woman, most of which are mothers with multiple kids who cant afford to feed them all. Swift explains how the country would be better if parents sold their children, and if people ate them if they were not needed.