T E
by the government or exists through ineffectiveness. Next, that there is a general readiness of the educated class to take part in political affairs, as well as confidence from the writer that they can actually create an impact; and lastly, an audience that enjoys the “graces of literature.” All these criteria are filled throughout the essay, which contributes to its effectiveness. First and foremost, the simple fact that he makes the rhetorical decision to devise a plan consisting of eating children to serve as his medium for conveying his true proposal blatantly lays out his confidence in his writing. While this demonstrates Hodgart’s third criteria, it also leaves the reader at a loss for words. Immediately, you realize that this is not a normal essay. The pure confidence shown through his style builds his credibility as a satirical author, and his syntax and diction throughout the essay serve to construct his fake ethos as a rich Irishman. His underlying arrogant tone exists to demonstrate how the rich treat the poor: That they all pretend to display some sort of urgency to aid them, but in reality, are only benefiting themselves and putting in the most minimal and useless effort in actually helping. The barbaric proposal stirred controversy for many reasons- the elites that saw through the metaphor were provoked by his witty criticisms, some people were fueled by the emerging enlightenment ideas and were inspired to create change by his essay, and some people thought Johnathan Swift actually wanted to commit mass genocide on babies and eat them. He predicted this, and initially published the pamphlet anonymously, further displaying his confidence in the strength of his writing. Moreover, in numerous parts of the essay Hodgart’s second criteria is fulfilled by the creation of the idea that his proposal is not the first and that the “wise men” have been tirelessly trying to devise a strategy of this caliber. Swift explains that he has been “wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle” and “visionary thoughts,” which is humorous to the reader that recognizes this is from head to toe a concoction of bologna (761). The Einstein discovering the theory of relativity-esque image he creates with
