A Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift

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Jonathan Swift’s article “A Modest Proposal” (1729) discusses Ireland’s ailments and how the English are oppressing the Irish. Swift discusses a possible solution to Ireland’s poverty, proposing a plan to sell off Irish babies to the English. Swift’s purpose by making this satirical proposal is to shock the English into seeing how oppressive they are, in order to bring about change in Ireland. The critical tone of Swift’s writing leads me to believe that this article is intended namely for the English, who he hopes will consider change after reading his article. Swift opens his essay by briefly discussing the situation and the problems in Ireland. Swift then begins to introduce his plan of selling off Irish babies to the wealthy English, speaking of the Irish as though they are made to seem like animals, reared only for food. In line with this, he lists six advantages to selling off Irish children as food, explaining how they could benefit both the English and the Irish. Swift then makes several remarks by which he hopes to make the English look barbaric and cruel, saying “...perhaps I could name a country which would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it,” (708). In some of his final paragraphs, Swift describes how unfortunate the Irish are. He ends the essay by discussing his personal interests, hoping to show that he is not biased in his writing by saying “...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…” (709). By making himself detached from the issue, Swift was able to achieve a higher level of credibility with his audience. Swift personally gains nothing by writing this piece, he desired only to make society better by reducing the inhumanities that he witnessed in Ireland. This meant that the British would listen to Swift without thinking that he was biased. If a poor Irishman were to write a piece of similar taste, the British might not think much of it, as they might find it biased. Swift establishes ethos in this way, but also by referencing other people who have given him information. One example is when he says “I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food…” (703), giving another source in order to further establish his appeal to ethos. One last way that Swift …show more content…
His entire proposal of selling off children to the English is an appeal to pathos, as there really is no better way to get to people’s emotions than by mentioning babies. The idea itself should evoke a sense of horror from both the Irish and the British. By reading this, the Irish will realize that the English have more power than they should, giving them the drive to finally overthrow the oppressive English. The English on the other hand, might finally realize how poor and helpless the Irish are, which is emphasized by the quote “...how will they be able to find food and raiment for a hundred thousand useless mouths and backs,” (707). It is an excellent way to ring clear with both groups, as it leads both the English and the Irish towards a united understanding of how to fix

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