Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Swift effectively parodies the cruel arrogance of the English and the submissiveness of the Irish parliament by presenting a horrific solution in well-reasoned and economically sound terms. The author points out that, instead of direct polemical criticism, Swift uses irony and parody to draw attention to the desperate conditions facing the poor of Ireland. The paper relates that the presenter employs pseudo-scientific statistics to make his argument appear more logical than it really is, thus creating the illusion of scientific certainty and reason by quoting numbers.

From the Paper:

"The pamphlet is a bold satire that excites the passion of readers even today, over two hundred years after it was written. Suggesting that the Irish poor eat their babies and thus make them beneficial to society is a point sure to demand attention. It works as a satire because the proposal is made with such a straight and sincere face. The narrator presents himself as a reasonable and humanitarian man."

More papers on Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal":

• Analytical Essay # 46988 : "A Modest Proposal"
• Analytical Essay # 144500 : "Historical Accuracy and Satire in "A Modest Proposal"
• Analytical Essay # 135210 : "Political Satire in "A Modest Proposal"
• Article Review # 93492 : "A Modest Proposal"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: