Analysis of A Modest Proposal

Analysis Of A Modest Proposal

Dr. Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" Dr. Jonathan Swift wrote A Modest Proposal in the 1700s, addressing the idea to feed the poor. In this he successfully mocks the heartless attitudes the Irish have toward the poor. During this time conditions have been worsening in Ireland. Dr. Swift uses understatements, irony, sarcasm, and paradox in his satire piece. Swift makes it clear that more often than not citizens were passive about the present problems. With that, he created A Modest Proposal in likes to shed light onto this upsetting topic. Dr. Swift uses irony in his article. Frankly, the entire title is ironic. "A MODEST PROPOSAL for preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...In which would hopefully get the wealthy's attention. Also proving that none of the child would be wasted, and would in fact benefit most Ireland's richer communities. The children are to be sold at 1 year of age. Poorer families would benefit from the money, and continue to sell their children to benefit Ireland's economy. "...at most not above the value of two shillings , which the mother may certainly get, or the value in scraps, by her lawful occupation of begging; and it is exactly at one year old that I propose to provide for them in such a manner, as, instead of being a charge upon their parents, or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing of many thousands" (Swift 2). Dr. Swift is saying the typical beggar would not earn more than two shillings. But with his new method of gaining income for poor families, they would earn a lot more. Coupled with paradoxes, Swift practices sarcasm to let his opinion be known on the neglect. "For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the number of papists, with whom we are yearly overrun, being the principal breeders of the nation as well as our dangerous enemies..." (Swift 8). Swift's sarcastic "our dangerous enemies" is referring to Irish Catholics. Which, like most others, oppose strongly to this idea of bettering their economy. "I can think of no

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