“A young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious… food” This is a line
used by Jonathan Swift in A Modest Proposal. In this writing, Jonathan Swift expresses his belief
that the children of poor women should be sold and eaten. He is, of course, using this writing as a
satire and is to not be taken seriously. He meant to bring light to all of the poverty in Ireland. The
literary devices of ethos, pathos, and logos can be seen throughout the essay.
Ethos, the establishment of credibility of the author, can be seen when he says “having
turned my thoughts for many years upon this important subject”. This shows that he is
reasonable in his thinking, not just thinking and say it right away. He also shows that he …show more content…
He also says he done calculations, which means he has put much time into it. He also
says, “A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I highly esteem, was
lately pleased in discoursing on this matter to offer a refinement upon my scheme.” This shows
that it has been approved by hierarchy.
Pathos, he manipulation of the readers emotions, can be seen when throughout the whole
essay. It talks about the different ways of cooking the child and paying the mother. He compares
the children to pigs by saying, “I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them
hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs.” This is supposed to be emotional to whoever reads it.
Throughout the essay, he shows no emotion towards the issue. He even says, in a sense, he is
doing the country well by proposing this.
Logos, the appeal of logic, can be seen when he says that through this proposal, the kids
would not be a burden to their parents. Ideally if the kids were not there in the first place and the
poor mother was compensated for it, then it would be economically beneficial. It is also a use
used by Jonathan Swift in A Modest Proposal. In this writing, Jonathan Swift expresses his belief
that the children of poor women should be sold and eaten. He is, of course, using this writing as a
satire and is to not be taken seriously. He meant to bring light to all of the poverty in Ireland. The
literary devices of ethos, pathos, and logos can be seen throughout the essay.
Ethos, the establishment of credibility of the author, can be seen when he says “having
turned my thoughts for many years upon this important subject”. This shows that he is
reasonable in his thinking, not just thinking and say it right away. He also shows that he …show more content…
He also says he done calculations, which means he has put much time into it. He also
says, “A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I highly esteem, was
lately pleased in discoursing on this matter to offer a refinement upon my scheme.” This shows
that it has been approved by hierarchy.
Pathos, he manipulation of the readers emotions, can be seen when throughout the whole
essay. It talks about the different ways of cooking the child and paying the mother. He compares
the children to pigs by saying, “I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them
hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs.” This is supposed to be emotional to whoever reads it.
Throughout the essay, he shows no emotion towards the issue. He even says, in a sense, he is
doing the country well by proposing this.
Logos, the appeal of logic, can be seen when he says that through this proposal, the kids
would not be a burden to their parents. Ideally if the kids were not there in the first place and the
poor mother was compensated for it, then it would be economically beneficial. It is also a use