Analysis of Jonathan Swifts Essay A Modest Proposal

Jonathan Swifts 1729 essay A Modest Proposal deals with societal issues contemporary to him and is meant to provide harsh criticism in regard to values promoted by society at the time. The author uses this essay with the purpose of suggesting that he found the solution to financial problems experienced by the Irish during the era. By advising these people to sell their people to wealthy individuals in England, he intends to satirize society by emphasizing the cruel attitudes generally expressed toward underprivileged individuals. Consequent to reading the essay most readers are probable to acknowledge that poor people are harshly discriminated by the social order. The beginning of Swifts essay cunningly influences readers in believing that his proposal is actually real and that he employs values like modesty and unselfishness in it. Swift relates to horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children, alas! too frequent among us! sacrificing the poor innocent babes (Swift) and persuades readers to believe that there is nothing wrong with this essay, as it is similar to any other text meant to promote social progress. The writer rapidly contradicts himself, however, when he begins to speak about how a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricasie, or a ragoust (Swift). Swift generally wants people toShow MoreRelatedA Modest Proposal Analysis Essay1465 Words   |  6 PagesA Modest Proposal Literary Analysis By J--- ----------- J--- ----------- Mr. H----- Period 6 2 May 2011 Jonathan Swift’s Use of Satire and Exaggeration Satire is a form of literature in which an author tries to demonstrate his or her point of view by ridiculing. 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