A Modest Proposal

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    A Modest Proposal Tone

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    A Modest Proposal, a famous satire written by Jonathan Swift cunningly tells of the tragedy that is taking place in Ireland. Swift’s descriptive storytelling and whimsical tone bring life to this satire. These two reasons are why I chose to use A Modest Proposal as my text to analyze. To have a better understanding of how to analyze this satire the literary element of my choosing will be style, tone, and irony. Style, tone, and irony each have specific distinct ways to allude the reader to what is actually going on but ever so slightly. On the first page, Swift leads the reader to interpret the town as a poor crime ridden area by using words such as beg, helpless, thieves, and horrid. When seeing just those four words appear, the tone is set, until a further change of events. Having a gloomy or depressing tone prepares the audience to sympathize with the protagonist, however, Swift’s unique writing style reduces or rather lightens the somber tone. An example of the shift of tone can be found in this quote, “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 fricasie, or a ragoust” (316). On my first reading, this statement left me baffled and threw my current understanding of…

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    anonymously wrote the modest proposal was to end the food shortage in Ireland and feel the hunger crisis within stimulating the exchange and regulating the overpopulation of poverty of the poor. However, the author deceives the readers implying the idea came from an acquaintance from America stated how tasty infant’s meat was delicious and tender and the special way the chef prepares by basted, stewed, baked, boiled and roasted. Therefore, the baby skin turned into beautiful fine leather gloves…

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    In 1729 in Ireland during a time of economic struggles a man named Jonathan Swift wrote and essay entitled “A Modest Proposal.” This essay he wrote told the solution for Ireland to gain money and stopping any famine is simple for all we most do is eat the overpopulation of children on the land. He goes on to say that poor beggar children will be easily fatten up and brought to the butcher to be properly cut to be sold to Ireland's rich and hungry. Bring down both the unemployment rate and the…

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    "A Modest Proposal" delves into many social issues that are still seen today. Even though this piece is satire, the glaring inequality in the story helps to create a sense of predator and prey. The narrator views the Irish people as vulnerable prey who are regarded as animals. This view that the impoverished Irish people are a group of animals is seen as a sign that they are hunted. This predator versus prey is seen throughout the story, not just the opening lines. On page 316, the narrator…

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    constraints and prejudice placed on people by society had and still have substantial effects. This allows ignorant people to develop preconceived notions and judgments of individuals based on what society have deemed them to be. The struggle for equality can push people to break away from barriers; however, many tend to stick within the framework that society has constructed for them due to the constraints that they place on themselves. Both Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” and Virginia…

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    Modest Proposal Themes

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    A Modest Proposal dives deep into the intertwining problems of Ireland using a bit of derision and irony. The essay was written and published anonymously by Jonathan Swift, a well educated man who was embedded in Irish politics. Directed towards the English who were buying up all the land in Ireland and the Irish themselves A Modest Proposal is meant to open up the eyes of those who are contributing to Irelands downfall through 3 major themes: suffering, ethics & morality, and greed. Swift…

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    Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” uncovers the laxity of British and Irish Gentry towards the increasing poverty in Ireland and the exploitation of the Irish. With its metaphors that depicts cannibalism as an acceptable solution to hunger, ‘modest’ can only be seen as an euphemism for this egregious suggestion. This satire dictates an economically insightful proposal that alleviate poor parents of their ‘bastard children’. As a result of this proposal, the outcome suggests to hinder children…

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    A Modest Proposal is an essay by Jonathan Swift of the 18th century. It is a satirical essay that talks about an argument that says infant children should be sold for their meat. Ireland needs a simple solution to help its poor population. The streets of Ireland are full of beggars, and they are mostly women beggars with children that struggle to find something to eat. The poor parents in Ireland spend all their time trying to find something to feed their large families. Even with all the…

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    In Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal, he uses a satirical form to exemplify the harsh reality of the treatment of the poor in 1700 Ireland. By proposing the inhumane practice of the selling of poor infants to the rich to be sacrificed to cannibalism, Swift mirrors the devouring nature of the economy by the rich that leaves the poor with nothing. Swift’s objective of such an absurd idea does not serve to be taken seriously, rather than to bring attention to the poor Irishmen by using the idea of…

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    Political Criticism. “A Modest Proposal” Jonathan swift wrote “A Modest Proposal” to make things worse in Ireland. His work about the rich should eat the poor’s children to benefit both parties, lead economic criticism from 1713-1745. “In the ear, Catholics were not permitted to vote, marry a protestant, or be educated as Catholics abroad.” In the story Swift challenges the status quo by enforcing the poor to sale their children to the rich for food. This benefits by helping the poor with money,…

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