A Modest Proposal Rhetorical Analysis

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In "A Modest Proposal," parody is one of the fundamental components Jonathan Swift uses to clarify how Protestants mishandled Irish Catholics. The audience is attracted by the several literary elements within his unrealistic proposal. Morally, the reader is attracted by the problem in which their country is in. A problem not only caused by the ones in power, but by the common people as well. He leads to having the people critically think about their values when he states that, “It is exactly at one year old that [he proposes] 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 contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing, of many thousands” (Swift 409). …show more content…

His use of satire is a wise method for him to deliver his message. Due to the poverty the Irish families are being forced to live in, he suggests the children be sold. In his opinion, “A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends”(410). The reader will soon notice how Swift’s essay is absurd. With all the cynicism and mockery used by Jonathan Swift, it is obvious the literature piece is everything a satire should be.
Along with the exaggeration, humor, and irony, the reader will notice the tone that the author has. The proposal is full of authoritative tone, so much that the reader may have to re-read the article. After this is done, the reader will notice the satire from the beginning. He performs this to demonstrate how absurd A Modest Proposal really is, being incompatible with the actual meaning of its title. Each of these elements, including the diction used, also demonstrates his style

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