Literary Analysis of ‘A Modest Proposal’ By Jonathan Swift

Introduction

Poverty is one of the major predicaments in Texas, America. Nonetheless, not only in United stated but also in the entire world. Over the years, various people addressed the issue, raised finances, volunteered, and even gave jobs to the poor but all their efforts were in vain, as the efforts and measures did not bear any fruit (Swift 6). The author tries to address the issue from a holistic approach by transcending the normal economic, political, and social aspects that generated them in the first place.

 First Technique

 When Swift wrote the proposal, Ireland, his country of birth was in tatters and ravaged with poverty. This was contrast to England, where the rich people lived. Famine strangled Ireland but the biggest worry was the incompetence of handling poverty (Swift 5). In this writing, he does his best to show the author the particulars of that time but does it in a satirical manner. The book explains the challenges faces in all its sectors. Poverty is painful eats away the dignity and respect of a person gradually. The author sees poverty from a unique angle (Swift 7). His tone and mannerism as he speaks for the poor and hopeless with an unmatched satire and sarcasm for the reader to easily grasp what it is and what it is not.

Second Technique

 ‘A modest proposal’ presents a ridiculous ideology that is, eating of children can be the only solution to food scarcity within the borders of Ireland from a logical, scientific manner, hence satirizing legislators and officials who pursued a solution to the challenges with statistical data an formulas (Swift 160). The essay commences slowly but gradually by painting the speaker as a concerned citizen sincerely sympathetic about the poverty levels of the Irish people whose suffering he narrates with clarity. Most of the readers resonate with the sentiments of the author: like a legislator, social expert, or board chairperson, he gives an honest perspective of in just few words and sentences, which later builds up paragraphs (Swift 1o1). More so, he unveils information and exudes confidence in his capabilities to solve challenges through balanced assessments of the current situation. Simply put, he tackles poverty through the ethic and morality standard.

 Third technique

The reader’s self-confidence in the author disappears instantly just after digging into the book shortly. Nevertheless, as the author applies one of the most appalling instants in the world of English writings, he also humbly presents and puts forward some of the most powerful sentiments on the advantages and disadvantages of poverty in Ireland and how the landlords are making hefty profits in spite of the poverty levels of the nation (Swift 134). Far from reaching his intentions, the writer’s shakes off the notion that he may be a concerned citizen and rubbishes off any positive side the reader would like to capture of him doing the right thing for the nation. In the end, it is up to the reader to take a solid stance and decide on which side he or she wants to take.

 In summary, one of the most powerful statement about this writing is the glaring facts and the lack of tension it creates due to the satire implanted here and there throughout the works as the author demonstrates effects of ethics, politics, and social class on poverty levels in Ireland. The savagery outlook and the terrifying or possibly insane suggestions can scare anyone out of their seat. However, the initial state of affairs, ironical statements, and satire utilized one can ignore only if he could give the reader another angle of looking at things.

 

 

 

 

References

Swift, Jonathan, and Alex Wilson. A modest proposal. Infomotions, Incorporated, 2000.

Swift, Jonathan, et al. The prose works of Jonathan Swift. Vol. 2. G. Bell and sons, 1908.