Sarcasm And Cannibalism: Analysis Of Swift's Modest Proposal

Improved Essays
Sarcasm and Cannibalism: Analysis of Swift’s Modest Proposal In Swift’s satirical essay on cannibalism, he uses layers of tone, vague word choice, organization, ethos, logos, and pathos appeals, to attain a satirical yet impactful proposal aimed at the English. He proposes cannibalism, an extreme but logically presented solution that attracts a considerable amount of attention. Which Swift then takes advantage of and blames the severity of Ireland’s condition on the audience’s inaction. Vague and careful word choice is used to aid Swift’s original description of the issue and the foundation of his own ethos. He starts with discussing “children in rags” that are “following their mothers; importuning every passenger for alms,” relying on …show more content…
The words “useful members” signals a shift in intention, as well as in topic, as the words are broad enough to allow the audience to make their own assumptions pertaining to Swift’s solution (1). He then does the unexpected and calmly suggests cannibalism as a logical solution to the issue presented above. Swift spends over a page explaining how bad it was on the streets and then proves it by explaining how cannibalism would work in excruciating detail, using strictly a matter of fact and logical tone. This explanation goes on for just over six pages in which he states that “a young healthy child well nursed at a year old is a most delicious meal” and that the food “will be proper for landlords,” stating it is expected the English would enjoy eating children as they “have already devoured most of the parents”(3). This strictly logical explanation aims to invoke an emotional response from the audience, by matter-of-factly stating they are so cruel as to logically be expected to eat children of the people they are stealing crops from. However this isn’t the only tone present, a heavy sarcasm slowly becomes more noticeable throughout the proposal to the point where the true intention behind Swift’s Modest Proposal is …show more content…
Swifts real message is realized when the epiphany strikes that the satire exists because the situation is so horrible, cannibalism can be presented as logical in comparison. Once the real purpose of the proposal has been realized, it is possible to recognize the planning and patience it took to write such a simple but powerful essay all while keeping the logical matter of fact tone. Two patient pages of vague, yet moving content about the issues on the streets of Ireland that built Swift’s ethos and invoked pathos in the audience. Followed by 6 pages of excruciating detail about the logistics and why cannibalism was a fantastic and logical solution. All of which tossed the audience around, invoking pathos and logos until the satyrical truth was revealed. Finally, two pages at the end for revealing satire, pointing blame at the English who have left the Irish people to die, and adding the finishing touches on his now obviously satyrical

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    A Modest Proposal is a satirical piece written by Jonathan Swift which uses the idea of satire to convey a message. His use of this literary device exaggerates the main message to comment on both the social and political hardships of overpopulation and poverty with Irish immigrants. There are multiple examples of irony that Swift uses, but these are about four of these pieces of evidence within the text that effective show his mastery of this literary device. The first example of Irony is within the title itself.…

    • 568 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Swift's motivation in composing this successful satirical essay is to point out exploitation caused on Irish Catholics by English Protestants. Swift conveys this purpose regardless of the audience’s understanding of the history of the text. A Modest Proposal proposes that poverty in Ireland can only be prevented by killing children and serving their meat as a delicacy to the nobility of Ireland. Swift expresses this fact when he states, “Those who are more thrifty may flay the carcass, the skin of which, artificially dressed, will make admirable gloves for ladies and summer boots for fine gentleman” (Swift 8). Swift intentionally exaggerates by stating such an extreme, to encourage citizens of society to find a prudent way of reducing the levels of poverty in Ireland.…

    • 820 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Jonathan Swift`s A Modest Proposal, Swift expresses his soaring agitation with Ireland`s political leaders, the hypocrisy of the affluent, the despotism of the English, and the squalor in which he catches so many of his people living. Swift uses logos, visual imagery, and a desperate, satirical and serious tone to convey his thoughts. He demonstrates that a nation`s most significant problem can come from oppression in hopes that not only outsiders but that other Irish people will stand up and fight. With facts and logics Swift does the math to prove that when we let ourselves be oppressed, what a crazy solution to a big problem could be. He states “[t]he number of souls of this kingdom… reckoned one million and a half, of these I calculate…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The story is filled with different types of emotion; for example, the reader first feels sadness and guilt, and then the reader begins to develop anger at the thought that a person could think of such atrocities. By using pathos in the story, Swift gets the audience to feel bad for the children and for the mothers whose children are selected or used for harvest. Swift tells, “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, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a 60 fricasie, or a ragoust” (Swift 2). These gruesome details stir the innate human tendency for the need to protect children whether they be their own or otherwise. By reading the proposal, people realized that there needs to be change and that if there is not a change then it will be the children, the future of the country, that suffer or are punished.…

    • 921 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Restrictions of Essay Writing in a Curriculum: An Evaluative Essay on Fred Stenson’s “In Search of a Modest Proposal Fred Stenson’s essay “In Search of a Modest Proposal” (Essay Writing for Canadian Students with Readings, 340) expresses his disapproval of essay writing in the grade nine curriculum. Stenson feels that essay writing should be a creative process towards student’s personal opinions, but the curriculum sets guidelines that the students must follow which prevents this. His reference to what his daughter has been taught in her English class is the basic premise of the essay as it is used to not only develop the essay but also the thesis which is not clearly stated. Stenson’s use of emotional appeal is for readers to sympathize…

    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Swift distract his audience with the idea of consuming babies but also includes the true plans that he wishes to achieve as well. Towards the end of his writing he establishes the things not to speak of; for instance, "Let no man talk to me of these and the like expedients, 'till hath at least some glimpse of hope, that there will ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them into practice". This is intentionally and specifically included at the end of the italic paragraphs to stress the fact that those plans are what the nation should follow, especially not to ignore it because it needs to be accomplished with "sincere hope and attempt to put in practice". One of the things beginning with, "Of taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound; of using neither clothes, nor household furniture..." and so forth, is presented in his piece for those who are willing to accomplish those plans. To be more elaborative, he is extremely attempting to grab the audiences attention, like saying "Since people are not realizing the major agony that our nation experiences, I am going to write an essay that no one will be able to resist to listen or read that includes a ridiculous proposal; however, a way to affix solutions of relieving poverty, even though it is going to be presented as sarcasm; in reality, it is…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    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…

    • 420 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal is a neo- classical satiric parody narrated by a well-to-do English protestant who views the Irish as a poor and begging people who have no money. In this essay the narrator proposes that the Irish should sell their kids for money, and that these kids that are sold should be killed and eaten for a source of food. Since Swift had little confidence in mans ability to use his own reasoning, therefore he turned to the power of persuasion to convince man of there sins and foils and to indicate the right action. “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 doors, crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for an alms…. or leave their dear native country to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes.”…

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A serious tone like King’s may have alienated his audience and not reached them on a level that would convince them to take action. Swift used a diplomatic and humanitarian overtone, and a subtly sarcastic and condescending undertone to create the satiric layers of interpretation, without scolding or blaming the reader. Swift’s use of satire is effective to persuade his upper-class peers by making them more receptive to what he has to say. The layers of interpretation make the proposal seem like it benefits the upper-class under the pretense of helping the lower class, making it more appealing to their greed and need to appear superior, while adding the third layer, making it a guise to convince the upper-class they need to help the lower-class. The absurd solution is an exaggeration of the upper-class’ current neglect and selfishness toward the lower-class.…

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Jonathan Swift, author of “A Modest Proposal,” tries to present different ideas in order to change the situation of Ireland. Through his proposal, he is able to get his point across. He wrote this essay to show how undeveloped and bad the state of Ireland is and the social classes. Throughout the essay he tries to make the readers to accept his idea of selling kids for food, all the while mentions some facts he think it is right. The idea is trying to make children of Ireland into useful members of the community.…

    • 907 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is Swift’s vivid detail in his writing that has the audience question his character and then question their own for continuing the read. Swift constantly goes into detail and analysis regarding his ideas to use children as a resource for food and clothing “ I believe no gentleman would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child, which as I have said , will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat,” Swift’s details regarding the cost of each child and the amount of plates one child could be served on, is more detail than anyone would want to truly know. His detailing is so animated it causes the audience to either be shocked or to begin to pick up the “humor”. His terms and language are used in hopes to help the Irish realize the poor treatment they received from the English people. Throughout the entire paper he breaks his ideas into vivid detail, infact all of paragraph 25 is the concern of how to ensure the child is fat enough to feed on.…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Ireland, there is nothing to do for the poor women to survive except begging for their helpless infant. The author tries to depict the pitiful life for the poor people through the essay. However, he portrays them in a completely different way. The author Swift uses ironic literary technique to expose a wretched life of poor Irish people. Even though the actual life of Irish poor people was painful, he describes the poor people as a great grievance for the country.…

    • 850 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Also, he states that he is not bent on his real ideas alone to fix the problem. Therefore, he says if there are any better ideas, that others should do it. He did not refute the opposing claims to leave room for those who may have better ideas than Swift and therefore, he is not so bent on his ideas. The weakness in Swift’s argument is that it does not account for how the people would feel about helping the poor. They may not feel the need to do anything for the poor; such as feeding them or giving them food.…

    • 582 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Swift’s diction is particularly important for setting and invoking an emotional stage and forming his credibility with the audience, giving him the credibility he needs in his logical arguments. Swift cleverly uses pathos, ethos, and logos to successfully persuade his audience of their absurdity in their approach to dealing with the Irish commoners and poor. For Swift, careful diction and tone allow him to successfully use pathos in persuading his audience. Swift uses three distinct tones to create a neutral persona while making himself into a patriotic, Irish-loving narrator; someone that is relatable and could be trusted. The first sentence of “A Modest Proposal” sets all three tones: despairing and sympathetic, annoyed and condescending, and patriotic.…

    • 1113 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    He also demonstrates logic and thought by showcasing the statistics of how his system would work. He shows that “20,000 (poor children) may be reserved for breed” and that “the remaining 100,000” could be offered for sale to the kingdom. This shows that Swift put time and effort into thinking of these numbers and also shows that Swift thought more about how the system would work. These pieces of the text also go back to support Swift’s message of how absurd the Irish poverty level is. With talk of flaying, selling, and breeding children, Swift again shows how low the Irish must go to support themselves.…

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays