A Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift

During the Neoclassicism movement, writers immensely based their work on those of ancient Rome and Greek, emulating what they saw as restriction, reasoning, and dignity of classical literature. Jonathan Swift’s satirical essay, “A Modest Proposal” draws attention to Ireland’s problems by advising the poor Irish people to sell their children as food to decrease poverty and overpopulation. Fanny Burney’s diary, An Encounter with “King George III” recounts an undesirable meeting with the king, and she describes his mental illness. “The Diary of Samuel Pepys” written by Samuel Pepys contains journal entries of his everyday life as well as accounts of many important historical events, such as the Great Fire of London in 1666. Enforcing expected …show more content…
Worrying about the king’s current humor, Burney recounts, “I knew not in what state he might be at the time; I only knew the orders to keep out of his way were universal…” (Burney 710). Both anxious and concerned, Burney worries about meeting the king due to the unpredictability of his mental illness. The king’s inability to communicate with people on a daily basis demonstrates a drawback not only in his social life, but also in his duty of ruling the country. Strolling through the garden of Kew Gardens, “. . . [Burney] thought [she] saw the person of his majesty! Alarmed past all possible expression, [she] waited not to know more, but turning back, ran off with all [her] might” (Burney 710). Because of the dangerous uncertainty of the king’s potential actions, the doctor recommends people to not come into sight of the king for the sake of their safety. The doctor’s far-fetched advice reveals the severity of the king’s mental disorder. Worrying about what the king will do next, the assiduous doctor begs him to leave Burney alone: “‘Come, [King George III],’…‘now do you come in and let the lady go on her walk, —come, now you have talked a long while, —so we’ll go in,—if your majesty pleases’” (Burney 714). The dependence of the doctor’s instruction demonstrates the king’s vulnerability to take care of himself. The king’s sickness evidently takes a toll on …show more content…
In effort to stop the fire, Pepys first wants to obtain an outlook of the fire: “I made myself ready presently, and walked to the Tower and there got up upon one of the high places…and there I did see the houses at that end of the bridge all on fire, and an infinite great fire on this and the other side the end of the bridge” (Pepys 584). Keeping his composure, Samuel calmly walks to the tower to catch an overview of the fire. Usually when a fire strikes, one would expect to see everyone to run wild and alarmed. Pepys, on the other hand, realizes that he has a duty to do, and he cannot afford to make rash, inconsiderate decisions when it comes to saving people’s homes. After everyone evacuates their house, Pepys reports, “We stayed till, it being darkish, we saw the fire as only one entire arch of fire from this to the other side the bridge, and in a bow up the hill, for an arch of above a mile long” (Pepys 586). Watching the fire burn down countless of buildings, including people’s homes, in London breaks everyone’s hearts. Pepys and others demonstrate tremendous restraint against trying to extinguish the fire that has destroyed not only their own homes, but as well as their neighbors’. Staying away from the rowdy fire helps prevent injuries and deaths from occurring. Describing his personal domestic affairs at home, Pepys explains, “…[My wife] came to