An Analysis on A Modest Proposal

714 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: A modest proposal jonathan swift analysis

Famous satirist, Jonathan Swift, in his essay, A Modest Proposal, talks about how to solve Ireland's overpopulation and severe poverty. Swift’s purpose in this essay is to convey how serious Ireland’s problem is and to convince the people of Ireland, both rich and poor, to make a change. Swift adopts a serious tone in order to make his ridiculous proposal seem “modest” when in fact it is ludicrous. This tone of his helps highlight just how severe Ireland's depression is.
Jonathan Swift, Irish Satirist, is trying to change Ireland by first proposing a crazy proposal, and then giving a realistic solution in the end. Ireland, at the time, had a terrible economy, overpopulation, and an abundance of beggars. The author assumes that everyone in the world knows Ireland is messed up, and needs help. He writes as if Ireland being in a bad state is a fact. This help makes his point more serious, and makes the consequences seem more real. His main argument is that the Irish, both rich and poor, need to chance. Change is necessary for Ireland to become a prosperous nation.
The writer assumes a calculating, but warm persona which genuinely wishes to help Ireland. This persona of his is established through his usage of logos and his desire to change Ireland. He is a Irish writer who went to oxford, and lived in Ireland. His ethos is very solid because of his heritage and his education. He shows good will, humility, and likeability. These traits can be seen through his desire to help his country, his selflessness, and his humbleness. He takes a very logical approach to solving the problem and has an overall serious tone. He uses a very logical approach to solving the problem and has a very serious, but passionate tone. His way of thinking is ...

... middle of paper ...

...ountry.
Swift argues later on that Ireland needs to be changed socially to create a change. He argues this after having a ridiculous proposal about killing babies, which makes his proposal seem very modest and reasonable. He dismisses all other views by basically stating that Ireland is in a terrible state and there is no other option. His bluntness helps him comes off as a genuine which in turns helps strengthens his arguments.
His masterful usage of pathos, ethos, and logos serve to strengthen his argument. The main weakness of his argument was that his actual proposal was quite weak. He basically said that every needs to wake up and change. This is an effective wake up call, but not a particularly good solution to Ireland’s poverty. Overall Swift uses rhetorical elements skillfully to help people realize how dire Ireland is, and to convince people to change.

Show More
Related

  • In a Modest Proposal, by Jonathan Swift, the main objective was to draw

    994 Words  | 2 Pages

    Swift's opposition is. indirectly presented in the report. The author uses satire to accomplish his objective not only because he is able to conceal his true identity but also because it is the most effective way to awake the people of Ireland into seeing their own deprivation. Firstly, the narrative voice begins the essay by describing the horrible conditions in which the Irish peasants live. He demonstrates there is a serious problem with a great need for a solution.

    Read More

  • A Modest Proposal Rhetorical Analysis

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    In “A Modest Proposal”, Swift does not blame everything on the people of Ireland. In fact, he says that the people, politicians, and English were all at fault for the horrendous state the country faced. One annoyance Swift states is that the poor infants, if they survive their childhood years, would “leave their dear native country to fight for the Pretender in Spain” or “they would sell themselves to the Barbados,” as indentured servants (Swift). He suggests that the lack of nationalism and pride in their country has led citizens to just leave instead of trying to fix the problem leading to the country 's

    Read More

  • A Rhetorical Analysis Of Swift's Proposal By Jonathan Swift

    1388 Words  | 3 Pages

    How does Swift want the reader to view his speaker? That is, how would Swift want his reader to describe the persona he adopts? Swift wants the reader to view the speaker as a reasonable, compassionate and rational person who has a genuine interest in solving the problems of the poor Irish. In the beginning of the essay, the speaker appears to be a concerned person who demonstrates a keen insight into the issues he addresses. However, this is contrary to the fact that the speaker predominantly relies on random and absurd statistics and logic to present his solution. By acting as someone compelled to solve the plight of the poor Irish, the unknown speaker makes his words more effective and establishes himself as someone who would never make the outrageous proposal that follows.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis in A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

    538 Words  | 2 Pages

    The issue that Swift is addressing is the fact that there are too many poor children in Dublin and that they are becoming such a huge burden for all the poor mothers or parents of the country. Swift then creates his own solution to the problem. He proposes that all poor children who are around one year of age, be cooked and eaten by the people of Dublin, preferably the poor. With this solution, he argues that it will eventually put an end to the overpopulation of the poor young children and it will satisfy the hunger for all the other people. Crazy right?

    Read More

  • An Analysis of Jonathan Swift and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Stylistic Devices

    2359 Words  | 5 Pages

    Many before him tried to provide useful solutions, but failed. The Irish are now left with nothing but what the English give them, suffering mass oppression, the real issue Swift wishes to address. Swift establishes a mutual understanding with the English from the beginning, an essential part of the careful construction in his essay. He cannot let the essay take a dramatic turn after the flip of the second page. Swift does this because he wants to give the impression that he shares the same views on the current condition of the kingdom.

    Read More

  • The Effectiveness of A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

    2432 Words  | 5 Pages

    Swift defined satire as; 'A sort of glass wherein the holders do generally discover everybody's face but their own, which is the chief reason for that kind of reception it meets in the world, and that so very few are offended with it. " Swift presents his "Proposal" as an entirely reasonable suggestion to aid the Irish, he enumerates the many benefits, counters the objections many may have, uses rhetoric reasoning and proves his humanitarianism views. Swift has written in considerable detail over the degree of poverty in Ireland, he draws attention to the causes of it obliquely and proves in great detail that his "Proposal" will work and in which ways it does work. Ireland was a colony of England; it was economically, politically and militarily dependent on ... ... middle of paper ... ...

    Read More

  • Using Satire in A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift

    751 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...h some way to fix the blight of the country in a manner that was beneficial to its entire people. He wanted the Irish subjugation to end and the English to take pride in the land they ruled. Swift went on to become the Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, where he funded a charitable house for poor women and Saint Patrick’s Hospital. He did not, in fact, want to eat babies; he wanted to help put an end to the awful things happening in the country that he loved.

    Read More

  • Hyperboles In A Modest Proposal

    608 Words  | 2 Pages

    Swift’s modest proposal includes multiple instances where Swift proudly declares that “I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom” in the face of potential objections to his plan (Swift 187-199). While Swift “can think of no one objection,” the reader can definitely think of millions of reasons why his plan will wipe Ireland off the map. In fact, Swift himself uses this phrase sarcastically in an attempt to get the reader to empathize with the Irish. Because the reader begins to pity the Irish, Swift ensures that he gets the message across that current conditions in Ireland are unlivable. Moreover, Swift ends his plan by vainly proclaiming that “I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good of my country” (Swift 234-236). The narrator clearly does not have any “sincerity of heart” with his intentions, proving that Ireland cannot survive in its current position with people like the narrator in power. Additionally, Swift’s sarcastic remark about promoting “the public good of [his] country” underscores the horrifying effects of his ghastly proposal, solidifying the horrifying fate of the Irish if

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Swift's Proposal

    1141 Words  | 3 Pages

    Swift wants his readers to interpret his speaker as a kindhearted, sensible gentleman with a sincere concern for resolving problems for the Irish people. In the first eight paragraphs, the reader meets an affectionate man with precise insight into the predicament he will shortly address. By doing this, the speaker establishes himself up as someone who would not make an outrageous proposition. This makes his words even more effective.

    Read More

  • A Modest Proposal

    1099 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ture the attention of the audience by means of “political pamphleteering which is very popular during his time” (SparkNotes Editors). The language and style of his argument is probably why it is still popular till this day. By using satire, Swift makes his point by ridiculing the English people, the Irish politicians, and the wealthy. He starts his proposal by using emotional appeal and as it progresses, he uses ethos to demonstrate credibility and competence. To show the logical side of the proposal, he uses facts and figures. By applying these rhetorical appeals, Swift evidently makes his argument more effectual.

    Read More

  • Satirical Response To A Modest Proposal

    650 Words  | 2 Pages

    With all of these problems, the parents couldn’t maintain their children, so they needed a solution. Now this incredible man comes with a solution that is going to blow your mind, Swift decides to give them a proposal. It was a really uncommon one, but very helpful for them. This proposal is going to stabilize once again the country of Ireland. He established the use of the children of the poor as a source of food.

    Read More

  • A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

    692 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the 1720’s, the Irish people were suffering dearly, due to the oppression by Great Britain. There oppression came in the form of being displaced by wealthy English people who were buying up land in Ireland and then not living there. They would proceed to rent some of their land to the Irish people at extremely high rent, which eventually led to them not being able to pay neither their rent or provide their families with food or clothes. The reason behind Swift’s proposal is simple. He is an Irishman. He has a sense of patriotic duty to attempt to help his fellow Irish people. He wants them to know that it is possible to move forward form poverty and out from under the oppression of the British. He structures his essay through a basic form of presenting an idea and then backing it up with “facts” like the growth in weight of babies or expert accounts on the taste of children from a credible source. Something that Swift just assumes that the audience will take for granted. Additionally he assumes that the audience won’t simply put his article down, taking it as the ramblings of a mad man talking about eating babies like it’s a normal everyday thing.

    Read More

  • A Modest Proposal - Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    Swift hoped to reach not only the people of Ireland who he was calling to action, but the British, who were oppressing the poor. He writes with contempt for those who are oppressing the Irish and also dissatisfaction with the people in Ireland themselves to be oppressed. The real issue being addressed in “A Modest Proposal” is the poverty that is plaguing Ireland. The piece was written at a time when the poor people were seen as a burden to their country and were being oppressed by the wealthy English government and landowners. Swift makes the argument to make the poor useful.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis: A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

    1109 Words  | 3 Pages

    A “Modest Proposal” is written by a man who had been exiled from England and forced to live among Irish citizens for many years during which he observed major problems in Ireland that needed a solution. The writer of this piece is Jonathan Swift, and in his proposal, “The Modest Proposal,” Swift purpose is to offer a possible solution to the growing problem of the homeless and poverty stricken women and children on the streets of Ireland. Swift adopts a caring tone in order to make his proposal sound reasonable to his audience, trying to convince them that he truly cares about the problems facing Ireland’s poor and that making the children of the poor readily available to the rich for entertainment and as a source of food would solve both the economic and social problems facing Ireland.

    Read More

  • Verbal Irony In A Modest Proposal

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    He also wanted to help advance the country’s trade, provide for infants, relieve the poor and help the rich. Swift ultimately wanted to get people thinking about actual solutions that could solve their current problems. Verbal irony is extremely prominent in A Modest Proposal. It is used to say the opposite of what the writer means. Swift’s main argument throughout A Modest Proposal is that Ireland deserves better treatment than England.

    Read More

More about An Analysis on A Modest Proposal

Open Document