In his satirical piece, A Modest Proposal, Dr. Jonathon Swift’s use of pathos demonstrates that civil neglect has debilitating effects on the poor in Ireland. Swift uses reduction to convey the degraded value of human life. Swift proposes that “the skin [of a child...] will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen” (I. 94-96). Since poor children are an eyesore to the upper class in the streets begging for food and money, Swift proposes that these children should be ridden of and killed. A poor child’s life, that would have been wasted away struggling to survive, takes on meaning by making use of its body parts to serve the upper class. Swift degrades human life—with the capacity to think, speak, and love—to an inanimate object to make the
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Swift’s use of gruesome and vivid diction regarding the imagery of children’s skin as clothes makes readers feel uncomfortable. By making them feel uncomfortably, he forces readers to view not only their personal lives but the lives of Ireland as a whole and draw parallels to the political injustices occurring in Ireland. Swift also uses reduction ad absurdum to express the loss of hope and confidence. Swift writes, “I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom” (I 187-189). Swift’s proposal was written so outrageously, including absurdities such as cannibalism of infants, to stir emotions in readers. Swift goes one step further arguing that he can not think of a single objection to his proposal. He frustrates readers that may have a million questions spinning in their head. Ultimately, Swift is trying to say that the lower class has lost hope as they see their unfair treatment by the rich to be no better than then their children being eaten and used by
Swift’s use of gruesome and vivid diction regarding the imagery of children’s skin as clothes makes readers feel uncomfortable. By making them feel uncomfortably, he forces readers to view not only their personal lives but the lives of Ireland as a whole and draw parallels to the political injustices occurring in Ireland. Swift also uses reduction ad absurdum to express the loss of hope and confidence. Swift writes, “I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom” (I 187-189). Swift’s proposal was written so outrageously, including absurdities such as cannibalism of infants, to stir emotions in readers. Swift goes one step further arguing that he can not think of a single objection to his proposal. He frustrates readers that may have a million questions spinning in their head. Ultimately, Swift is trying to say that the lower class has lost hope as they see their unfair treatment by the rich to be no better than then their children being eaten and used by