Modest Proposal Essay

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The following essay intends to compare the different literary techniques that Pepys and Swift use in ‘Samuel Pepys: Diary – The Fire of London, 1666’ and ‘Jonathan Swift: A Modest Proposal, 1729’ respectively to convey different ideas on, and different perspectives of, London and the streets of Ireland. Firstly, one could argue that the two texts have a diametrically similar tone regarding their discussion of the helplessness of people; Pepys presents London as undergoing destruction during this fire (and, hence, it’s not being resilient), whilst Swift portrays Ireland as incompetent and controlled by English dictatorship. The irony of this passage, and in Swift's treatment of the poor in general, is neither simple nor straightforward. His compassion for these people is lessened by a strong sense that people ought to take the initiative to help themselves out of their own difficulties. …show more content…

Whilst A Modest Proposal bemoans the bleak situation of an Ireland almost totally subject to England's exploitation, it also expresses Swift's complete disgust at the Irish people's seeming incapability to muster on their own behalf. Without excusing any party, the essay shows that not only the English but also nonetheless the Irish themselves--and not only the Irish politicians but also the population are responsible for the nation's lamentable state. His compassion for the misery of the Irish people is a severe one, and he includes a critique of their ineptitude in dealing with their own problems. The use of negative lexical choices is present when Swift uses words like ‘cannot’, ‘never’ which indicate he is not expecting good things, or likely to consider only the bad side of a situation which shows us his negativity to the whole

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