Modest Proposal

1. In “A Modest Proposal”, Swift begins to voice his opinion of Ireland’s poverty and suffering individuals. After reading the first few words, a reader would think Swift has some sympathy for these poor people; however, Swift’s satire ends up having a twist. Swift states, “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, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled.” The reader learns of Swift’s brutal proposal and is blown away at some of the ideas. This statement makes it clear that Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” is a persona in which Swift poses as the narrator.

2. When portraying the gruesome ideas, Swift’s intended audience is England. He mentions Irish people being treated in callous ways. This pamphlet was written by Swift to expose the unjust and sufferings of Irish men and women. He criticizes England and their pitiless treatment. For instance, Swift mentions, “the poor tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by law may be made liable to distress, and help to pay their landlord’s rent, their corn and cattle being already seized and money a thing unknown.” Here, Swift shows that England never let the Irish have possession of anything and were strict and selfish. Money is an unknown thing because the tenants have nothing to keep and constantly have to pay their landlord’s. By stating this, Swift insults the English landlord’s and wants to make a better change for the Irish.

3. Jonathan Swift used figurative language such as hyperboles and irony in his essay. For example, one hyperbole that Swift stated was of the plump girl’s body being sold for four hundred crowns. This is considered a hyperbole because one dead body should not cost that much. Another exaggeration that Swift used was when he say, “useful members of the commonwealth would deserve so well of the public as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation.” This is a bit exaggerated because not everyone that helps out in society gets their own statue built. Along with hyperboles, Swift used irony throughout his essay. To begin with, the title alone is an irony. The proposal was not so modest and was completely the opposite. Swift’s proposal was instead outrageous and gruesome. In addition to the title, an irony was used when he cringed at the thought of eating teens as well; he felt it was “bordering upon cruelty.” This was ironic because Swift only thought of this plan as brutal and not all the others. Another example of an irony is seen when Swift said that his plan had the advantage of “preventing voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children.” A reader might think that Swift is trying to save children; however, this is ironic because when children are used for food, they are being killed as well.

4. Swift’s true proposals throughout his pamphlet benefit Ireland. When concluding his satire, Swift says that his main purpose is for the good of his country. Swift wants to help Ireland by providing for the poor and infants.

5. In both Gulliver’s Travels and “A Modest Proposal”, Swift uses figurative language and also compares England to something else. Both pieces of writing consist of irony and point out issues in society in satirical form. In Gulliver’s Travel, Swift compared the Yahoos in Book Four to England. The Yahoos were portrayed as selfish individuals who were indifferent and uncivilized. Swift shows how the English were different in their government and other practices. Similarly, in “A Modest Proposal,” Swift again expresses the hatred of the English people towards Irish. For example, the landlords and poor tenants’ problem was explained. Both writings have similar ideas and use similar writing techniques.