irony in a modest proposal essay

Irony in Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal Essay Example

“A Modest Proposal” is a very ironic title for this piece of writing because this proposal is not modest at all. The figure of speech used in this essay would be verbal irony and Swift uses irony as a way to make his argument. He starts with addressing his “solution” to the poverty issue occurring in Ireland and while he mocks the Irish he suggests eating the babies would provide profit and solve all the issues that were happening. The use of irony in this proposal was a good way to get the readers to understand the revulsion of eating and selling babies and to expose those who had power over the issues in Ireland. 

“It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars of the female-sex, followed by three, four, five or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for an alms. He is showing his “sympathy” over the horrific conditions in Ireland. He engraves an image of the reality in Ireland and makes the image seem shabby and sad. This is an example of irony because Swift discusses how these beggars can make their lives better and created a solution. He suggests that these children should be seen as a meal and sold as food, so that the mothers or “breeders” would be free from raising their children who will grow up to “either turn thieves for want work, or leave their dear native country to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes”(427). The irony in this would be that these children have no future besides from becoming thieves or being a burden to their poor parents and society. They need to be useful to society, therefore they are used as income for their parents and food for others. To put it another way, this will end Ireland's poverty problem and create more job opportunities and there will be less beggars. In reality Swift is not literal when making this suggestion. Swift also ironically said “ After all, I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion as to reject any offer proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally innocent, cheap, easy and effectual”(433). He explained how he was not harsh in his proposal, which again would be an overstatement. Using irony and really exaggerating his thoughts will make the reader realize the depth to the problem and see how bad it really is. 

Another irony in “A Modest Proposal” is when Swift congratulates himself on the fact that his proposal will “prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children, alas too frequnrt among us, sacrificing the poor innocent babes, I doubt, more to avoid the expense than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhuman breast”(428). It is important to realize that “the murdering of poor innocent babes” without being mindful of it, is still considered murder and is immensly brutal. That was the whole point Jonathon was trying to imply. To add on, he was being very ironic when this was said because his whole proposal was about using these children for something good, money and food, so when he spoke up about the cruelty of murder when his proposal mainly depends on murder, it was shown once again, the divergence of reality and the way the Swift describes it. 

All things considered, the use of irony in “ A Modest Proposal” was an excellent way to get through his message. He used this figure of speech to reach out to the readers and help them understand the seriousness of poverty and hunger and how it needs to be talked about more. “A Modest Proposal” is significant to the society, even today because it brings up and discusses issues that arise in today’s society. The irony captivates the reader because it contains the reality of the issues in the world by explaining them in such a sarcastic way. Swift uses irony in a way to sound less intense and aggressive when criticizing these people in power and the thoughtless society of Ireland.

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Use of Irony in a Modest Proposal

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A Modest Proposal

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A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift | Summary & Analysis

Who is Jonathan Swift? Jonathan Swift was an Irish writer, poet, and satirist best known for his novel “Gulliver’s Travels” and his satirical essays. One of his most famous works, “A Modest Proposal,” is a satirical essay published in 1729. This essay is often studied for its biting social commentary and clever use of satire.

Table of Contents

Background of “A Modest Proposal”

“A Modest Proposal” was written during a time of great social and economic turmoil in Ireland. The country was suffering from poverty, famine, and overpopulation, and the British government’s policies were exacerbating these issues. Swift wrote “A Modest Proposal” as a way to draw attention to the dire conditions in Ireland and to criticize the British government’s handling of the situation.

Summary of “A Modest Proposal”

In “A Modest Proposal,” Swift presents a shocking solution to Ireland’s poverty problem: he suggests that impoverished Irish families should sell their children as food to wealthy English landlords. Swift argues that this solution would not only alleviate poverty but also provide a new source of income for the Irish people.

Swift’s proposal is presented in a straightforward and logical manner, but it quickly becomes apparent that he is using satire to critique the British government’s indifference to the suffering of the Irish people. By proposing something so outrageous and morally repugnant, Swift forces his readers to confront the reality of the situation in Ireland and to question the policies that have led to such extreme poverty and desperation.

Analysis of “A Modest Proposal”

Swift’s satirical approach is what makes “A Modest Proposal” such a powerful and effective piece of writing. By presenting his proposal in a calm and rational tone, Swift lulls his readers into a false sense of security before shocking them with the absurdity of his suggestion. This technique allows Swift to highlight the absurdity of the British government’s policies and to make a powerful statement about the moral bankruptcy of those in power.

In addition to its satirical elements, “A Modest Proposal” is also a scathing indictment of the social and political conditions in Ireland at the time. Swift uses his proposal to criticize the British government’s economic policies, which he argues have contributed to the poverty and suffering of the Irish people. He also highlights the hypocrisy of the wealthy English landlords who exploit the Irish peasantry for their own gain.

Impact and Reception of “A Modest Proposal”

When “A Modest Proposal” was first published, it caused a sensation and sparked a heated debate about the state of Ireland and the ethics of Swift’s proposal. Some readers were shocked and outraged by Swift’s suggestion, while others recognized it as a brilliant piece of satire that exposed the injustices of the time.

Over the years, “A Modest Proposal” has continued to be studied and analyzed by scholars and students alike. Its enduring relevance is a testament to Swift’s skill as a writer and the power of satire to provoke thought and inspire change.

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In conclusion, “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift is a masterful work of satire that uses humor and irony to expose the social and political injustices of its time. Swift’s biting critique of the British government and its policies continues to resonate with readers today, making “A Modest Proposal” a timeless classic of English literature.

Was “A Modest Proposal” actually intended to be taken seriously?

No, Jonathan Swift wrote “A Modest Proposal” as a satirical piece intended to criticize the British government’s policies in Ireland. It was not meant to be taken literally.

What was the reaction to “A Modest Proposal” when it was first published?

The essay sparked a heated debate, with some readers outraged by its content and others recognizing it as a work of satire.

What are some of the literary devices used in “A Modest Proposal”?

Swift employs irony, sarcasm, and exaggeration to make his point in “A Modest Proposal.”

What is the significance of the title “A Modest Proposal”?

The title is ironic, as Swift’s proposal is anything but modest. It is a scathing critique of the British government’s policies in Ireland.

Why is “A Modest Proposal” still studied today?

The essay remains relevant because of its powerful social and political commentary, as well as its timeless exploration of the use of satire as a tool for social change.

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A Modest Proposal

Jonathan swift, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Today we regard “A Modest Proposal” as a seminal work of Western satire—satire being the use of humor or irony to reveal and criticize the evils of society. Though Swift wrote the tract in response to the specific social conditions afflicting his native Ireland, its bitter humor shocks and delights as much now as it did in 1729, when it circulated the streets of Dublin as an anonymous pamphlet. The power of Swift’s satire resides in the intensity of his verbal irony—that is, his ability to say one thing and mean precisely the opposite.

In large part, the humor of “A Modest Proposal” arises from the enormous gap between the cool, rational, self-righteous voice of the speaker and the obvious repulsiveness of his proposal: that the infant children of Ireland’s poor be raised as livestock, slaughtered, and sold as food to the wealthy, who will enjoy them as a tasty delicacy. No reader, no matter her personal values or political allegiances, will be able to take seriously the speaker’s proposal. Thus, the reader’s engagement with the text will consist in constantly looking beyond what is said in search of what is meant —or, to put it another way, looking for a sincere message hiding behind the obvious satire.

One way to understand the text’s irony—this discrepancy between saying and meaning—is to imagine the speaker as a fictional persona (call him “ the Proposer ”) who is totally distinct from Jonathan Swift, the author. The Proposer truly believes in the genius of his plan, and seems oblivious to the fact that it will strike any sane person as monstrous.

Yet, at a few moments in the text, it is possible to recognize Swift’s own voice and ideas sneaking around or through the Proposer’s ludicrous suggestions, advancing instead Swift’s own sincere convictions. This happens in the opening paragraphs of the essay, when Swift can be heard speaking alongside the Proposer—it is safe to say that both he and the Proposer share a mutual concern for the state of society in Ireland. This agreement makes the Proposer’s sudden endorsement of cannibalism all the more shocking and hilarious when it finally arrives. It is important to note that, in 1729, political pamphlets often made the rounds in Ireland, many of them offering earnest if somewhat misguided solutions to the social ills plaguing the country. Accordingly, the first readers of “A Modest Proposal” might not have caught on to the essay’s satirical intent until they reached the speaker’s startling claim that the flesh of an infant could make a fine “ragout,” a type of stew.

In what is perhaps the climax of the essay, Swift presents his own sincere (you might also say “actual”) thoughts on how best to resolve the situation in Ireland. But he does so backhandedly. Rather than state his proposal outright, he embeds it within the Proposer’s dismissal of any and all solutions that do not involve eating children. These alternatives, which the Proposer criticizes as impossible, will strike the reader as exceedingly reasonable, not to mention humane. The literary term for this rhetorical move—advancing an argument by pretending to refuse it—is apophasis, Greek for literally “speaking off.”

Satire and Sincerity ThemeTracker

Satire and Sincerity Quotes in A Modest Proposal

It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for an alms.

As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of our projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in their computation.

The number of souls in this kingdom being usually reckoned one million and a half, of these I calculate there may be about 200,000 couple whose wives are breeders; from which number I subtract 30,000 couple who are able to maintain their own children, (although I apprehend there cannot be so many, under the present distresses of the kingdom;) but this being granted, there will remain 170,000 breeders. I again subtract 50,000 for those women who miscarry or whose children die by accident or disease within the year. There only remain 120,000 children of poor parents annually born.

I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or a girl before twelve years old is no saleable commodity; and even when they come to this age they will not yield above 3l. or 3l. 2s. 6d. at most on the exchange; which cannot turn to account either to the parents or kingdom, the charge of nutriment and rags having been at least four times that value.

I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection. 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 broiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or ragout.

I grant that this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.

Therefore let no man talk to me of other expedients: of taxing our absentees at 5s. a pound: of using neither clothes nor household furniture except what is of our own growth and manufacture: of utterly rejecting the materials and instruments that promote foreign luxury: of curing the expensiveness of pride, vanity, idleness, and gaming in our women: of introducing a vein of parsimony, prudence, and temperance: of learning to love our country, in the want of which we differ even from Laplanders and the inhabitants of Topinamboo: of quitting our animosities and factions, nor acting any longer like the Jews, who were murdering one another at the very moment their city was taken: of being a little cautious not to sell our country and conscience for nothing: of teaching landlords to have at least one degree of mercy toward their tenants: lastly, of putting a spirit of honesty, industry, and skill into our shopkeepers…

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....... "A Modest Proposal" is an essay that uses satire to make its point. A satire is a l iterary work that attacks or pokes fun at vices, abuses, stupidity, and/or any other fault or imperfection. Satire may make the reader laugh at, or feel disgust for, the person or thing satirized. Impishly or sardonically, it criticizes someone or something, using wit and clever wording — and sometimes makes outrageous assertions or claims. The main purpose of a satire is to spur readers to remedy the problem under discussion. The main weapon of the satirist is verbal irony, a figure of speech in which words are used to ridicule a person or thing by conveying a meaning that is the opposite of what the words say.  ....... The essay was originally printed in the form of a pamphlet. At the time of its publication, 1729, a pamphlet was a short work that took a stand on a political, religious, or social issue — or any other issue of public interest. A typical pamphlet had no binding, although it sometimes had a paper cover. Writers of pamphlets, called pamphleteers, played a significant role in inflaming or resolving many of the great controversies in Europe in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, as well as in the political debate leading up to the American Revolution.  ....... In addition to “A Modest Proposal,” Jonathan Swift wrote many political pamphlets supporting the causes of the Tory political party after he renounced his allegiance to the Whig party. 

Historical Background

....... Over the centuries, England gradually gained a foothold in Ireland. In 1541, the parliament in Dublin recognized England’s Henry VIII, a Protestant, as King of Ireland. In spite of repeated uprisings by Irish Catholics, English Protestants acquired more and more estates in Ireland. By 1703, they owned all but ten percent of the land. Meanwhile, legislation was enacted that severely limited the rights of the Irish to hold government office, purchase real estate, get an education, and advance themselves in other ways. As a result, many Irish fled to foreign lands, including America. Most of those who remained in Ireland lived in poverty, facing disease, starvation, and prejudice. It was this Ireland — an Ireland of the tyrannized and the downtrodden — that Jonathan Swift attempted to focus attention on in “A Modest Proposal” in 1720.

....... Editor's Note : In "A Modest Proposal," Swift assumes the persona of a statistician. The following summary of the essay greatly condenses the original wording. 

....... Because so many Irish parents cannot find decent jobs to support their children, they spend all their time walking the streets to beg alms of passersby. Meanwhile, the children grow up to become thieves or emigrants. ....... This situation presents a serious problem for Britain, especially since there are so many Irish children. Each year, several hundred thousand babies are born to Irish parents. If you subtract those who are born to well-to-do parents, those who are stillborn, and those who die after birth as a result of disease or accident, you are still left with about 120,000 babies who have to be supported by poor parents. ....... Of course, a mother can feed her child for one year with breast milk. But after that, she must beg food for the child. However, I [the writer of the essay] have a modest proposal to solve this problem. Here it is:  ....... I have been told by a knowledgeable American that a year-old-infant is 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 fricassee or a ragout." ....... Therefore, I suggest that of the 120,000 new infants of poor parents, 20,000 be reserved for breeding and the rest be sold to people of quality. ....... “A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt, will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter . . . .” ....... Not only will my plan provide excellent food and relieve the burden on Irish parents and Great Britain as a whole, it will also reduce the number of Roman Catholics, since it is the Roman Catholics who have the most children. In addition, my plan will have the following advantages: ....... Inkeepers who serve fat children at their tables will be popular with their customers. ....... A mother of a sold child will pocket a handsome profit and be free to work until she has another baby. ....... The skin from babies can be used to make gloves for women and boots for men.  ....... Women will take excellent care of their newly born infants, for they will want their babies to be plump and healthy when it comes time to sell them.  ....... “Men would become as fond of their wives, during the time of their pregnancy, as they are now of their mares in foal, their cows in calf, or sows when they are ready to farrow; nor offer to beat or kick them (as is too frequent a practice) for fear of a miscarriage.” ....... Only young, tender children would be sold. Older boys, with years of exercise that develops their muscles, would be too tough to eat. Older girls would be so close to childbearing age that it would be best to let them breed.  ....... An extremely important part of my proposal is that it would eliminate the need to raise taxes to support the poor, thereby enabling the rich to continue to enjoy all their luxuries. In addition, English landlords would not have to show mercy to their Irish tenants. In turn, the Irish tenants would have enough money to pay their high rents, thanks to the sale of their children.  ....... I must point out that I am not proposing this plan for personal benefit, inasmuch as I have only one child — age nine and thus too old to sell — and my wife is too old to have another baby. .. . Complete Title . ....... The complete title of "A Modest Proposal" is "A Modest Proposal for preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick." 

....... In "A Modest Proposal," Swift uses a standard essay format: an opening that presents the topic and thesis (the "modest proposal"), a body that develops the thesis with details, and a conclusion. In the opening, the author states the problem: the deplorable economic and social conditions that impoverish the Irish and prevent them from providing adequate care for their children. Before presenting the thesis, he inserts the following transitional sentence: "I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection." He follows this sentence with the thesis, then presents the details in the body of the essay. In the conclusion, he states the benefits that would accrue from his proposal. He begins with the following two sentences: "I have too long digressed, and therefore shall return to my subject. I think the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious and many, as well as of the highest importance." He next lists the advantages, using transitional words such as secondly and thirdly to move from one point to the next." He ends the conclusion by explaining why his proposal is superior to other remedies. Keep in mind that throughout the body and conclusion Swift makes his argument with irony, stating the opposite of what he really means. For more about Swift's use of irony, see " Irony ," below.

....... The dominant figure of speech in "A Modest Proposal" is verbal irony, in which a writer or speaker says the opposite of what he means. Swift's masterly use of this device makes his main argument—that the Irish deserve better treatment from the English—powerful and dreadfully amusing. For example, to point out that the Irish should not be treated like animals, Swift compares them to animals, as in this example: "I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs." Also, to point out that disease, famine, and substandard living conditions threaten to kill great numbers of Irish, Swift cheers their predicament as a positive development:

Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed, and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken to ease the nation of so grievous an encumbrance. But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known that they are every day dying and rotting by cold and famine, and filth and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. And as to the young laborers, they are now in as hopeful a condition; they cannot get work, and consequently pine away for want of nourishment, to a degree that if at any time they are accidentally hired to common labor, they have not strength to perform it; and thus the country and themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come.

Exploitation of the Downtrodden

....... Beneath Swift’s audacious satire is a serious theme: that English overlords are shamelessly exploiting and oppressing the impoverished people of Ireland through unfair laws, high rents charged by absentee landlords, and other injustices. 

....... At the time of the publication of "A Modest Proposal," many British Protestants disdained Roman Catholics--especially Irish Catholics--and enacted laws limiting their ability to thrive and prosper. 

Irish Inaction

Swift's satirical language also chides the Irish themselves for not acting with firm resolve to improve their lot.

Author Information

....... Jonathan Swift was born on November 30, 1667, in Dublin, Ireland. His father — an Englishman who had moved to Ireland — died earlier that year. Receiving financial assistance from relatives, Swift attended a good school for his basic education and graduated from Trinity College in Dublin in 1686. He lived off and on in England, became an Anglican clergyman, and eventually was appointed dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, although he had lobbied for a position in England. His writing — especially his satires — made him one of the most prominent citizens in Great Britain, and he worked for a time on behalf of Tory causes. His most famous work is Gulliver's Travels , a book of satire on politics and society in general. Swift died in Dublin on October 19, 1745. Click here for additional information . .

• Write a satircal essay that focuses on an issue in your community, your state, or your country. 
• How would you describe the tone of "A Modest Proposal?"
• To what extent (or ways) was British exploitation of Irish labor an outgrowth of an economic policy known as mercantilism?
• What historical developments caused the animosity between Protestants and Catholics in Great Britain of the 1700s?
• The language of "A Modest Proposal" is specific and succinct. It is also playfully shocking, as demonstrated in the following paragraph in which Swift uses carcasses (remains of dead animals dressed by butchers) to refer to the remains of children prepared as meat: "Supposing that one thousand families in this city, would be constant customers for Infant's Flesh, besides others who might have it at merry meetings, particularly at weddings and christenings, I compute that Dublin would take off annually about twenty thousand carcasses , and the rest of the Kingdom (where probably they will be sold somewhat cheaper) the remaining eighty thousand."
• Find other passages in the story in which Swift's words seemed designed to shock or amuse the reader.

A Modest Proposal

Background of the essay, historical background, literary background of a modest proposal, a modest proposal summary, a modest proposal analysis, the pattern of rhetoric, a modest proposal as a a satirical essay, on the irish government, on the irish people, on the english rulers, on utilitarianism, tone of the essay, more from jonathan swift.

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The use of irony and exaggeration in jonathan swift’s “a modest proposal”.

Jonathan Swift is undoubtedly one, if not the most, prominent satirical writers of the eighteenth century. In his writings he presents a blatant social criticism mocking the political, social, and religious norms of Irish society through the use of irony and exaggeration. Via his bizarre story telling in his essay “A Modest Proposal,” he elevates the politics of society to a level of barefaced absurdity which in turn, requires the reader to think logically while reading this work. Swift’s exaggerated use of satire as a device to reveal the corruption of society in his writing has not only contributed to his legacy as a pronounced satirist, but helped shape the literary genre of satire as a whole.

In his writing’s, Jonathan Swift is notorious for using exaggeration to provide political and social commentary. This can be seen throughout his essay, “A Modest Proposal,” in which he suggests that the only way to save Ireland from overpopulation and poverty is to kill the children of the poor families and serve their meat as a delicacy to the nobility of Ireland. Swift goes so far as to think of recipes and ways to make the skin into gloves and handbags. He states, “Those who are more thrifty may flay the carcass, the skin of which, artificially dressed, will make admirable gloves for ladies and summer boots for fine gentleman” (2433). Swift purposefully exaggerates the idea because the people of Ireland fail to conjure a logical way to reduce overpopulation and poverty. By presenting such a ridiculous way of fixing this problem, Swift encourages the members of society to find a sensible way to reduce the levels of poverty in Ireland. Here we see an ironic social commentary as well. Swift proposes that we feed the children to the nobility,  not the starving parents or the other starving children, but the upper class. While the poor people of Ireland continue to breed, the rich will have elaborate feasts and dinner parties with the meat of peasant’s children. The idea of the poor raising food for the rich as a solution to poverty is ludicrous as well as highly ironic. The rich will continue to enjoy the luxuries of the upper class such as wealth, power, and fine dining, while the peasants raise their meat for them. If Swift’s Proposal were indeed legitimate, one could argue that the rich children should instead be fed to the poor citizens. Subsequently, the rich will have ridden Ireland of poverty, while the poor feast on the fattened children of the upper class. Swift utilizes this same irony in the title of his essay “A Modest Proposal.” Proposing that society should turn to cannibalism as a solution to poverty is anything but modest. However, by asserting from the beginning of the essay that the proposal that he presents is a modest and logical solution, the reader is encouraged to recognize the irrationality of Swift’s suggestions and reevaluate what would indeed be a politically acceptable solution to the problem.

Work Cited Swift, Jonathan. “A Modest Proposal.” The Longman Anthology of British Literature. 4th ed.  Damrosch, David, and Kevin J.H. Dettmar. New York: Pearson Education Inc., 2010. 2431-2437. Print.

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• Why is Jonathan Swift an important writer?
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A Modest Proposal

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• The Guardian - The 100 best nonfiction books: No 88 – A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift (1729)
• Internet Archive - "A Modest Proposal"
• Pressbooks - Jonathan Swift: A Modest Proposal
• Academia - A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
• The Victorian Web - "A Modest Proposal"
• Humanities LibreTexts - "A Modest Proposal"
• Literary Devices - A Modest Proposal

A Modest Proposal , satiric essay by Jonathan Swift , published in pamphlet form in 1729.

Presented in the guise of an economic treatise , the essay proposes that the country ameliorate poverty in Ireland by butchering the children of the Irish poor and selling them as food to wealthy English landlords. Swift’s proposal is a savage comment on England’s legal and economic exploitation of Ireland. The essay is a masterpiece of satire , with a blend of rational deliberation and unthinkable conclusion, and its title has come to symbolize any proposition to solve a problem with an effective but outrageous cure.

Irony in “A Modest Proposal”: a Satirical Examination

Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” is a renowned example of satirical writing, using irony to critique social and political issues of his time. This essay examines the use of irony in Swift’s proposal to sell and consume children as a solution to poverty. It explores how Swift uses this shocking suggestion to highlight the callousness and inefficiency of British policy towards the Irish poor. The overview analyzes the layers of irony in the text, demonstrating how Swift’s extreme proposal serves as a vehicle for scathing social commentary. The piece aims to provide an in-depth understanding of Swift’s use of satire and irony to provoke thought and highlight societal injustices. At PapersOwl too, you can discover numerous free essay illustrations related to Irony.

How it works

• 1 The Role and Purpose of Satire in Literature
• 2 Mockery in Various Media Formats
• 3 Religious Mockery in “Huckleberry Finn”
• 4 Irony in “A Modest Proposal”
• 5 References:

The Role and Purpose of Satire in Literature

Satire is a way of carrying out a specific task used by writers to uncover and condemn the inanity and wrongdoing of an individual or a society by applying comedy, mockery, overstatement, or sarcasm. A person, country, or, surprisingly, the whole world could be aimed in the form of satire by a writer. Traditionally, satire is a humorous section of writing which forms the enjoyment of an individual or a society to reveal its ignorance and imperfection.

Satire’s job is to mock or attack those wrongdoings in society, which the writer contemplates as a warning to sophistication. The purpose of satire is not to create laughter towards people or ideas; it aims to inform society and to change their judgment regarding the succeeding dishonesty or surroundings. The most effective form of satire is the usage of mockery, making fun of and showing contemptuous language directed at a specific person or thing.

Mockery in Various Media Formats

Mockery is applied in most elements of satire because it tends to create further enjoyment for the audience. Throughout a piece of satire, mockery is generally used to mock or make fun of something. While people read or watch a piece of satire, it is more enjoyable to view when someone is being made fun of. For example, The Simpsons 3 am parody Donald Trump, mockery is constructed in this piece by making fun of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. In this video, you can see how mockery is being used because watching this will make you laugh. Mockery is intending to mock or make fun of someone, which this video does very well.

Not only is mockery used in films or videos, but it is additionally applied in cartoons. In this cartoon, there is a sign that says, “Caution children playing.” This sign declaims the opposing view of what the children are actually doing. It conveys how the kids are on their phones or electronic devices, not playing or interacting with one another. This relates to today’s society because kids nowadays are always on their phones. Kids would rather be on their phones than hanging out with friends. This is an example of mockery because it is making fun of today’s generation and how kids cannot stay off of their phones.

Religious Mockery in “Huckleberry Finn”

Mockery is also used in the novel Huckleberry Finn; the characters do not mock or make fun of this topic. Religion is being made fun of and mocked in this novel, even though the characters do not mention anything about it. The author implies that religion is being made fun of. In the first chapter of this novel, it states, “Now she had got a start, and she went on and told me all about a good place. She said all a body would have to do there was to go around all day long with a harp and sing, forever and ever. So I didn’t think much of it. But I never said so. I asked her if she reckoned Tom Sawyer would go there, and she said not by a considerable sight. I was glad about that because I wanted him and me to be together.” – The Huckleberry Finn, page 3. Twain shows how he does not like the proposal of heaven and communicates how the common person would think it was boring. This also shows how judgemental people can behave.

Irony in “A Modest Proposal”

Authors often use irony as a satirical device. The irony is a literary device in which there is an incongruence in discordance between what one says or does and what one means or what is generally understood. Swift uses vast amounts of irony throughout his writing called, A Modest Proposal.  In the Modest Proposal, mockery is used to mock a person. For example, “ 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…” The author, Swift, is writing in the voice of an extreme, bigoted English Protestant in order to mock such a person. He reveals the stereotype that the Irish make a lot of babies by calling them “principal breeders.”

References:

• “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift.
• “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain.

Cite this page

Irony in "A Modest Proposal": A Satirical Examination. (2023, Aug 16). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/irony-in-a-modest-proposal-a-satirical-examination/

"Irony in "A Modest Proposal": A Satirical Examination." PapersOwl.com , 16 Aug 2023, https://papersowl.com/examples/irony-in-a-modest-proposal-a-satirical-examination/

PapersOwl.com. (2023). Irony in "A Modest Proposal": A Satirical Examination . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/irony-in-a-modest-proposal-a-satirical-examination/ [Accessed: 24 Jun. 2024]

"Irony in "A Modest Proposal": A Satirical Examination." PapersOwl.com, Aug 16, 2023. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/irony-in-a-modest-proposal-a-satirical-examination/

"Irony in "A Modest Proposal": A Satirical Examination," PapersOwl.com , 16-Aug-2023. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/irony-in-a-modest-proposal-a-satirical-examination/. [Accessed: 24-Jun-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2023). Irony in "A Modest Proposal": A Satirical Examination . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/irony-in-a-modest-proposal-a-satirical-examination/ [Accessed: 24-Jun-2024]

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