Satire In A Modest Proposal - 2026 Words

The Morality of Irish Baby Food It is human nature to want to believe that if you have good living conditions, the everyone else must also have good living conditions; however, if someone did not fit this ideal, then it was his or her own fault and no one else had anything to do with it. This was a common theme centuries ago, and it still a common theme today, though which particular characterizes makes someone privileged continues to change over time. In Jonathan Swift’s essay â€Å"A Modest Proposal,† Swift uses the elements of satire to ridicule Irish oppressors, specifically the Catholics and the rich. LITERARY ANALYSIS One of the most commonly used elements of satire is irony, which Swift uses freely to show the monetary and religious†¦show more content†¦The most significant part of this is â€Å"the projector finding a useful ally in an American savage currently residing in London, who confirms his hypothesis that young babies would make tasty and wholesome dishes for the tables of Irish gentlemen,† (Chowdhury) where Swift has included both America and England, both locations being disliked by the Irish in varying amounts. Swift is satirizing the Catholics and outside oppressors through his constant use of irony when speaking about the unnecessary number of children in Ireland, especially after the prior famines. Swift also uses hyperbole to show the differences between the rich and poor and the Catholics and Protestants. In the first paragraph of â€Å"A Modest Proposal,† Swift exaggerates the way mothers â€Å"are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants† (1) and suggests that the only possible outcomes for these infants are to â€Å"turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country, to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes† (1). In omitting other possibilities, Swift is using hyperbole to portray the lack of options for the poor in Ireland. Moreover, he dehumanizes the children when he decides â€Å"that of the hundred and twenty thousand children, already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, †¦ which is more that we allow to sheep,Show MoreRelatedA Modest Proposal On Satire1239 Words   |  5 PagesSatire is a specific classification of writing th at occasionally makes utilization of realistic and performing expressions with the aim of scorning society into self-change. With social criticism being its fundamental objective, it uses dark sarcasm as its primary device to get the point across. Satire impacts people to reconsider themselves so as to alter senseless thoughts and behaviors. Different techniques are utilized in delivering the satirical impact, those of which use wit as their primaryRead MoreSatire Modest Proposal Essay837 Words   |  4 Pagescan be slow or non-existent. However some social commentators, such as Jonathan Swift in his pamphlet A Modest Proposal, use clever, targeted, and ironic criticism to bring the social state of Ireland to the attention of indolent aristocrats. He accomplishes such criticism through satire, specifically Juvenanlian satire. 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Swift makes his point by stringing together a dreadfully twisted set of morally untenable positions in order to cast blame and aspersions on his intended audience. Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"A Modest Proposal† employs despicably vivid satire to call for change in a world of abuse and misfortune. The entire proposal stands as a satire in itself; an analogyRead MoreSatire in the Essay A Modest Proposal956 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Satire: A Modest (Jersey) Proposal Forget all that nonsense of college improving your character or teaching you how to learn. That is so passÃÆ' ©, so 1990s. In fact, the notion of college being necessary itself may simply be an expensive myth: Bill Gates and Steve Jobs both dropped out of college, right? Sure, you can go to college to become a lawyer or a doctor and please your parents. 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Swifts proposal is an attempt to suggest a remedy of Irelands situation by shocking those who are powerful enough to inflict change on Irelands appalling circumstances. In order to do this Swift creates an alter egoRead MoreSatire in A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift745 Words   |  3 PagesYou can’t make fun of what isn’t real. When considering what lines can be crossed with satire, many people are most sensitive about protecting feelings; the common consensus seems to be that satirists should not overstep their boundaries by addressing touchy subjects and making fun of sensitive issues. While breaking hearts may not garner positive responses, it is important to understand that as a medium, satire is meant to offend one’s sensibilities. It serves as a platform to spark discussion throughRead MoreSatire : A Modest Proposal And The Rape Of The Lock905 Words   |  4 PagesIn this paper, satire in A Modest Proposal and The Rape of the Lock will be discussed. The satire within these two texts will be linked by showing how each writer attacked the accepted way of life or common belief in order to present their own opinion on the matter. What makes these two writings a good comparison is that although one is in essay form and the other in poetic form, they are both from the same time period; they were written 17 years apart in the beginning of the 18th century. This isRead MoreUsing Satire in A Modest Proposal† by Jonathan Swift760 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"A Modest Proposal† by Jonathan Swift, is an essay that uses satire. Merriam-Webster defines satire as: a way of using humor to show that someone or something is foolish, weak, bad, etc.: humor that shows the weaknesses or bad qualities of a person, government, society, etc. â€Å"Satire may make the reader laugh at, or feel disgust for, the person or thing satirized. Impishly or sardonically, it criticizes someone or something, using wit and clever wording—and sometimes makes outrageous assertions or