Awake the Irish to the Physical Existence of Their Diabolic Environment

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A Modest Proposal is a satirical essay written by Jonathan Swift as a way to express the horrific conditions Irish people underwent throughout the 1700’s (McNeil, 2010). Swift describes the evil, unjust and cruel treatment Ireland experienced due to its tyrant the forceful England. He develops a persona, the fictional character, with the intention of leading the Irish towards the truth and reality of their deprivation. The persona alone is insufficient in making the narrator seem reasonable. Thus, the persona utilizes irony that serves the purpose of attacking, exposing and scorning the Irish people. Yet, in order to make cannibalism sound like a practical ironic solution the author wisely uses his wit to imply that cannibalism cannot be more savagely cruel and unethical than what the Irish are permitting their oppressor to do to them. Swift’s use of the persona, irony and wit awakens the Irish to the physical existence of their diabolic environment and convinces them that they should take action in order to cease the circumstances.

Fictional persona conceals Swift’s true identity helping him portray to the readers the significance of Ireland’s problems and allowing them to see the truth and reality. The persona identifies a very intelligent, serious and concerned Irishman. He seems to be monstrous for proposing something cruel and evil very calmly as if it is a typical thing to consume the flesh of an infant. In general, the proposition to eat infants makes his proposal diabolic. He proposes:

“at exactly one year old that I propose to provide for them, in such a manner as instead of being a charge upon their parents or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall, on the contrary, contribu...

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... and wit in order to influence the readers to approach his essay and his proposal with sincerity. However, all he really wanted the Irish to do is buy Irish goods, tax their absentees, become wiser and economical with money and be less indolent. Upon closing, his essay Swift asks the property owners to be more lenient on their people. Swift’s essay presents the Irish with a fanatical solution in order to make them realize the horrible and inhumane circumstances they underwent throughout the 1700’s.

Works Cited

McNeil Bertrand, Jennifer. "The Ireland of Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal." Suite101.com. 14 Nov. 2010. Web. Jan. 2012. .

Swift, Jonathan. "A Modest Proposal." Masters of British Literature, Vol. A. New York: Longman, 2008. 1288-294. Print.

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