A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift Literary Analysis

Slaughtering Children To Decrease Overpopulation After examining the satiric essay “A Modest Proposal” written and published by Dr. Jonathan Swift. He displays irony, elaboration, and humor to emphasize the issues and concerns of what was going on in Ireland. Mainly the events of the impoverished Irish, which were slaughtering their children to sell to the wealthy. It was a trade where the poor could pay off their debts, while the wealthy gained economic status. Both sides benefited. His descriptions and choice of words won over the reader's understatement, understanding the attitudes of the rich toward the poor. In addition, Swift was determined to change the ongoing issues between the wealthy and poor. The intended audience is the English folk and the Irish, both showing no interest in Swift's proposal as they could be the only ones to change the horrible situation. Irony plays an important role throughout the satirical essay, one sense is Swifts had a sense of purpose and how he treated the poor fairly. It was neither simple nor point-blank. Swift had many worries and thoughts, but they were meaningful and powerful. Going with his proposal starting and trying to give a better understanding of how the wealthy behaved towards the poor. The inhuman things to support the economy in such ways that are different from traditional human values, Swift stating here in a few sentences “I have reckoned upon a medium, that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, increases to 28 pounds. I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children”(75). Another distinguishing factor is Swift's use of verbal irony. Stating to say the opposite of what the writer is saying. Swift's main argument is still supporting the poor from the backlash from the wealthy, making the readers undergo all kinds of emotions, discouraged, emphatic, and more. Stated below are a few words Swift is implying on how to change and help those gain better knowledge of the issues “As to our City of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpose, in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will not be wanting; although I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs”(96). These important words help Swift inform the audience that the Irish should be treated with respect and not like animals, eating and slaughtering each other. In addition to this Swift continues even if given no respect he says “Therefore I repeat, let no man talk to me of these and the like expedients, 'till he hath at least some glimpse of hope, that there will ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them into practice”(206). Here this phrase is telling the reading Swift will repeat his proposal, letting nobody options try to convince him of his ways, “till he hath at least some glimpse of hope” is implying to those to have faith and trust in Swift's proposal. The cruel description of the way Swift describes the poor individuals of Ireland is pitiful, leaving an impact on the reader. Making the children seem like pieces of meat as said: “A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt, will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter”(70). To also say the mother is “breeders” revealing the mother is there to produce and have babies. As stated before this piece of writing is satirical. Meaning sarcastic, critical, and mocking another's weaknesses. So like playing a trick or riddle, all that is spoken in the satirical is giving meaning to what is happening in Ireland of overpopulation and enslavement. The modern phrase “a modest proposal”. Defined as a proposal that will have a solution to a social or economic problem, modest on the other hand is reasonable or humble. Coming from the ironic point, the proposal is introducing a far-fetched topic. Swift's proposal gets explained well throughout this essay, making you think about what's about to come next, reaching out, and getting a hold of your mind. Providing many useful thoughts and information. How the poor were getting run down by the wealthy. Stating that this is satirical which is a joke or pun, meaning the Irish didn't slaughter their children for money, however, there were still issues happening.