John Swift's A Modest Proposal

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Recommended: A modest proposal by Jonathan Swift critical analysis

In Jonathan Swift’s satirical work, A Modest Proposal, the reader is presented with a horrible concept using extremely effective language and logos; Swift uses strong speech, rational tone, and complex grammar to convince readers that eating children will solve all the problems in 19th century Ireland. Swift’s overall goals in his pamphlet, however, is not to actually encourage eating babies, which is why it is of satire, but is instead to raise awareness of Ireland’s conditions for living, failing political figures, and the tyranny brought by England.

Swift states in his sub-title, "For Preventing the Children of poor People in Ireland, from being a Burden to their Parents or Country; and for making them beneficial to the Public" (Swift Sub-Title). This quote is about fixing the problems in Ireland. Swift attacks where it hurts the most, which would be the youth. He is hoping by putting the spotlight on the financially unstable youth of Ireland that the country as a whole would be emotionally affected. He wants everyone to understand that Ireland is in a poor state of condition and that a change needs to be made. He opens with this as his sub-title because it immediately grabs the reader’s attention and, further more, it brings awareness that there is a problem. Swift then continues on by saying, "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..." (Swift par. 3). This is arguably the most famous line in the essay. It is in this sentence that Swift justifies the food side of his satirical “modest proposal” that the people of Ireland should eat their young. Swift introduces this idea in the ...

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...ersonal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good of my country, by advancing our trade, providing for infants, relieving the poor, and giving some pleasure to the rich.” (Swift par. 33). This quote finally unveils what Swift was really getting at in his satirical essay. Swift bluntly says that he was not actually proposing to eat babies, which leaves the reader to only realize what Swift was actually trying to bring attention to the issue’s Ireland has and that these problems must be addressed. Swift cleverly uses strong speech, rational tone, and complex grammar to convince readers that eating children will solve all the problems in 19th century Ireland. It’s quite obvious that Swift is a firm believer in logos because of his persuasive reasoning in his essay and his use of logic to back up his reasoning.

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