Satire of a Modest Proposal Essay - 1331 Words

Irony is a beautiful technique exercised to convey a message or call a certain group of people to action. This rhetorical skill is artfully used by Jonathan Swift in his pamphlet â€Å"A Modest Proposal.† The main argument for this mordantly ironic essay is to capture the attention of a disconnected and indifferent audience. Swift makes his point by stringing together a dreadfully twisted set of morally untenable positions in order to cast blame and aspersions on his intended audience. Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"A Modest Proposal† employs despicably vivid satire to call for change in a world of abuse and misfortune. The entire proposal stands as a satire in itself; an analogy paralleling the tyrannical attitude of the British toward their Irish†¦show more content†¦The British have reigned over the Irish so long and so cruelly that they have left Ireland in â€Å"state of dependence† psychologically, politically, and economically. In other words, the â€Å"ideology of Protestant consumption† has â€Å"actually eroded† the self-confidence and sense of worth of the Irish so badly that it has left Ireland a nation unable to sustain itself (Mahoney). England is eating up Ireland. But this tribulation cannot be blamed solely on the British. Swift cleverly condemns the British aristocracy for their mistreatment of the Irish people while also criticizing the Irish people for allowing this exploitation. The Irish have done nothing to halt the terrorizing nature of their domineering counterparts. Swift uses this proposal to â€Å"the wretched Irish situation† (Lockwood). By â€Å"rigorously underplaying the aspect of fantasy in his proposal,† Swift suggests the Irish have arrived at a condition in which such a plan may be seriously considered (Lockwood). Booth describes that every detail of Swift’s proposal â€Å"supports the inference that the woes of Ireland make, indeed, a ‘melancholy Object .’† In essence, the â€Å"anger against the English is used merely to heighten† Swift’s own dismay over the way Ireland has conducted itself (Booth). Swift craftily causes readers to question more than just how to fix the problems in fraught Ireland. Through the supreme verbal irony of hisShow MoreRelatedA Modest Proposal On Satire1239 Words   |  5 PagesSatire is a specific classification of writing that occasionally makes utilization of realistic and performing expressions with the aim of scorning society into self-change. With social criticism being its fundamental objective, it uses dark sarcasm as its primary device to get the point across. Satire impacts people to reconsider themselves so as to alter senseless thoughts and behaviors. Different techniques are utilized in delivering the satirical impact, those of which use wit as their primaryRead MoreSatire In A Modest Proposal2026 Words   |  9 Pagesit still a common theme today, though which p articular characterizes makes someone privileged continues to change over time. In Jonathan Swift’s essay â€Å"A Modest Proposal,† Swift uses the elements of satire to ridicule Irish oppressors, specifically the Catholics and the rich. LITERARY ANALYSIS One of the most commonly used elements of satire is irony, which Swift uses freely to show the monetary and religious divisions in Irish society. After suggesting the idea of eating babies and wearing theirRead MoreSatire Modest Proposal Essay837 Words   |  4 Pagescan be slow or non-existent. However some social commentators, such as Jonathan Swift in his pamphlet A Modest Proposal, use clever, targeted, and ironic criticism to bring the social state of Ireland to the attention of indolent aristocrats. 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Various techniques are usedRead MoreSatire in the Essay A Modest Proposal956 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Satire: A Modest (Jersey) Proposal Forget all that nonsense of college improving your character or teaching you how to learn. That is so passÃÆ' ©, so 1990s. In fact, the notion of college being necessary itself may simply be an expensive myth: Bill Gates and Steve Jobs both dropped out of college, right? Sure, you can go to college to become a lawyer or a doctor and please your parents. But why bother with pesky physics and political science when there is a much more lucrative way to makeRead MoreEssay on A Modest Proposal: Satire at Its Best643 Words   |  3 PagesA Modest Proposal: Satire at Its Best Jonathan Swifts 1729 essay, A Modest Proposal, was a true example of satire at its best. Many readers at the time rejected the essay because they failed to understand the irony. 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When considering what lines can be crossed with satire, many people are most sensitive about protecting feelings; the common consensus seems to be that satirists should not overstep their boundaries by addressing touchy subjects and making fun of sensitive issues. While breaking hearts may not garner positive responses, it is important to understand that as a medium, satire is meant to offend one’s sensibilities. It serves as a platform to spark discussion throughRead MoreSatire : A Modest Proposal And The Rape Of The Lock905 Words   |  4 PagesIn this paper, satire in A Modest Proposal and The Rape of the Lock will be discussed. The satire within these two texts will be linked by showing how each writer attacked the accepted way of life or common belief in order to present their own opinion on the matter. What makes these two writings a good comparison is that although one is in essay form and the other in poetic form, they are both from the same time period; they were written 17 years apart in the beginning of the 18th century. This isRead MoreUsing Satire in A Modest Proposal† by Jonathan Swift760 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"A Modest Proposal† by Jonathan Swift, is an essay that uses satire. Merriam-Webster defines satire as: a way of using humor to show that someone or something is foolish, weak, bad, etc.: humor that shows the weaknesses or bad qualities of a person, government, society, etc. â€Å"Satire may make the reader laugh at, or feel disgust for, the person or thing satirized. Impishly or sardonically, it criticizes someone or something, using wit and clever wording—and sometimes makes outrageous assertions or