Suppression and Hence Deterioration in the State of the Catholic

When A Modest Proposal was published, or to give it’s full name "A Modest Proposal for preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the public." England dominated the whole of Ireland. English landlords owned much of Ireland’s property, Charging ridiculous amounts for rent to poor tenants who could barely afford to pay. England imposed extremely high taxes on Ireland and the English laws which restricted Irish trade made it impossible for the country to ever prosper. In general, the English had, at this time, a negative attitude towards Irish people, and Roman Catholics which most Irish people were. This knowledge is important when reading and understanding this piece. Without knowing a little about the political and social state at this time, it may be difficult to pick up on Swift’s use of satire. However the piece itself, even the full title does educate the reader to an extent, talking about different social classes and focusing particularly on the poor in Ireland. This essay purports to be neither decisive nor conclusive, but merely attempts to assess the importance on the historical content of “A Modest Proposal” in order to see if it is a required element when trying to understand the piece.

At the time A Modest Proposal was written, Ireland was in a state of extreme poverty. The country was significantly overpopulated: people were struggling to make ends meet and provide for the growing population. The author of the text, Dr. Jonathan Swift, was repulsed by the Irish government’s reluctance to institute any major changes to help resolve the levels of poverty and overpopulation present at the time. In response, he wrote this text to criticize the upper class for this level of inaction, as well as their failed attempts at resolving the issue. Through Swift’s use of satirical devices -- such as irony, hyperbole, and understatement -- he was able to convey his message to the public which was criticism about the inadequate actions being taken by the government to solve Ireland’s troubles. He believed they weren’t doing enough to help the situation at the time and wanted them to see their defeat in hopes that they would decide to finally act.

Using the proper appeals and mechanisms, Swift wrote a piece that in a sense was the voice of the voiceless! Eighteenth century for Ireland was almost like a rally; their economic condition was a harsh one, and they had high poverty rates. As opposed to that of the United Kingdom- formed of England and Scotland-, back then it was economically vibrant. As for the Irish political condition; there was a huge gap between the Irish and the English as well as the discrimination present in the Catholic Church. Ireland was an oppressed minority and was in a sense an outsider in its own home. “In 1750, 93% of the land was owned by non-Irish landowners and by 1770, this number was practically 100%” (“Short history of Ireland in the 18th century”). Swift didn’t only use the proper appeals while tackling those conditions but also used the right language. Satire maybe a difficult to understand genre but it certainly is a treasured way to deliver a message. It serves to voice the cruel acts in a manner that wakes those who practice them. Woken from a trance then, the oppressor gets the chance to regard his acts with

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.

Swift wants the reader to describe the persona he adopts as one with a deep understanding of the deplorable circumstances in Ireland, so that he is deemed reasonable in his proposed solution for the state of the kingdom. He successfully achieves this by incorporating thorough descriptions of his plan, such as in the explanation having 20,000 poor children reserved for breeding and the remaining 100,000 used as sustenance for the rest of the populace. Swift also forms a solid argument by appealing to pathos in addressing heartbreaking topics such as, “the mothers who, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants,” which promotes sympathy in the readers, thereby influencing them to agree with his proposal to counteract such unfortunate circumstances.

During the 1700’s poor beggars, predominantly Catholic's crowded the streets of Ireland. Being too poor to support themselves, they would implore to survive. “A Modest Proposal” by Dr. Jonathan Swift is a notable piece of satire created in attempts to solve the poverty and overpopulation problems in Ireland. Swift bespeaks methods to prevent the poor beggars from burdening the population. Instead of bypassing the “useless pests”, Swift uses rhetorical devices of irony and hyperbole to present outrageous ways the poor could benefit wealthier classes.

In Jonathan Swift's satirical essay “A Modest Proposal” he addresses the issues of the nation of Ireland and the problems that it is having with its government because it is doing nothing to help their people come up from issues such as poverty, overpopulation and other crudely addressed political issues. In an attempt to solve these national problems, Swift comes up with a very unique and intense proposition on how the problem can be fixed and dealt with. By providing the reader with a combination of all the three rhetorical appeals ethos,logos, and pathos, Swift can easily, slowly, and effectively bring his proposition into view without the reader completely discarding it from consideration as Swift's words take into deliberation the feelings

Although Swift was relatively wealthy his goal was to garner empathy for the poor Irish people, much like people today emphasize with the less fortunate. To do this Swift knows that he must showcase the brutal immorality of the situation. To express the terrible immorality Swift coldly points out that,“But I am not in the least pain upon that matter because it is very well known that they are every day dying and rotting by cold and famine, and filth and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected” (6). Swift points out the already horrific conditions in Ireland. He wants to bring attention to the Irish people's suffering. This is similar to how people try to bring attention to the poor suffering in our county today. Then as now, many of the problems facing society are often worsened by politicians and other leaders. To mock such leaders, Swift satirically explains his horrific plan ignoring its morality: “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 publick good of my country” (9-10). Swift satirically acts like his plan will save the nation, but he does not acknowledge the immorality of his position. He does this to parody Ireland's leaders who leaders falsely believe themselves to be great leaders. Much like our political leaders who do not always do what is best for the

The poor in the country comprise of beggars and their children, and cottagers and laborers; if the government decides to provide for them, it will result in a serious debt spanning myriad years. Swift’s indication that his proposal is rather cheap, innocent, effectual and easy to adopt is also an indication that the end of the story will be different from what the readers expect. Swift asserts that even the parents of the children who have developed to adolescence would have seconded his idea to solve the problems that they have faced trying to provide for them. In comparison to how the essay concludes, this is an indication that Swift (2007) was also speaking for himself as at the end of the essay he regrets not having children whom he could sell for benefit.

He appeals to the mournful emotions of the audience by using obversations of his own of the community. He says, “It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin door, crowded with beggers od the famle sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags” (Swift 404). His opening statement inmediatly tries to attach an emotional approach and introduces sensative topic. Swift does this as a way to grab your attention in order to instantly know that his readers will continue to become hooked on his proposal and take a moment to realize Ireland’s economical hardships. This outpouring emotion from the audience is a

Swift attracts attention to the cruel mistreatment of the impoverished class of Ireland through the use of his absurd proposal, his tone, and also his insincerity.

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

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

In the satire “A Modest Proposal’, Jonathan Swift expresses his feelings of frustration with regard to the aggravation and political issues in Ireland. He describes being frustrated with the indifference of Ireland politicians, the wealthy, the English tyranny, and the degradation and poor conditions in which many poor, Irish women and children have been forced to live in. Swift is embarrassed for those that come to the towns and travel the country, only to see the streets full and crowded with beggars. Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” satire is a reality called for the politician, the wealthy, and the

“A Modest Proposal” is an essay about the issues with Ireland’s economy. The first eight paragraphs of the essay are concerned with the unhappy state of the Irish poor people and their children. Swift talks about his anger with Ireland’s politicians, the tyranny of the English, the terrible economy of Ireland, and how Irish people have been living so poorly. It describes Swift’s disgust at the citizens of Ireland and their ability to fix the mess of their country. The essay shows that the Irish politicians are responsible for the nation’s terrible state. Swift comes up with ideas to help the nation and fix the economy. Swift makes a solution that he takes seriously, which is to “find out a fair, cheap, and easy Method” for turning poor and