S C A “Not So Modest” Proposal

it when leveraging the serious subject of cannibalism to pressure his readers toward change.

Jonathan Swift uses the four conditions of political satire to improve his account for credibility and persuade his audience of his ideas. Swift utilizes the first criteria of free speech through design as in Greece or England by establishing his thoughts even though he did not have the full right to. He speaks on his proposal and that he feels no one will object to it unless they would be lessened by the Kingdom, “ is I freely own, and it was indeed one principal design in offering it to the world” (29). Swift uses his idea of free speech towards the English to criticize their acts in government, although he wasn ’t allowed to. Back in the eighteenth century, people did not have the right to criticize England’ s government, so the fact that he did it anyways detects his passion towards the argument and strengthens his credibility. Swift uses the second criteria by writing towards a more educated and wealthier group, the English. He purposefully writes in a very educated manner, so that the poor Irish wouldn’t be able to understand his language, but the upper class and educated could. He uses specific diction such as fricassee and ragout to establish who he was writing to and why he was writing this, such as, “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 boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout” (9). When using these specific food terms, Swift expresses who his true audience is and why he is writing to them. He wants the English to know that they need to fix their political affairs with the Irish after ambushing them. Swift wants their mistakes to be seen and known, and he did this by using words or terms he knew only the most educated people would know, such as elevated terms for different types of food. By using these rhetorical techniques towards his audience, he is persuading them by bringing knowledge to their attention. Swift continues to use the criteria by demonstrating

a high level of confidence that his proposal is without a doubt, disagreeable. He is persistent in which he knows his ideas will be heard and changes will be made, “I think the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious and many, as well as of the highest importance” (20). Swift acknowledges the importance of his ideas and makes them very clear to the reader, and confidence advances his chance at persuasion. He knows that if he makes a strong argument and knows its strength, that it will impact the audience’ s view and they will be more assured that his proposal is justified. Lastly, the fourth criteria is revealed by using wit and imagination in his writing to allow for a larger audience to enjoy it. Towards the end of his proposal, Swift makes his point very clear to the audience, “For this kind of commodity will not bear exportation, the flesh being of too tender a consistence to admit a long continuous in salt, although perhaps I could name a country which would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it” (31). Swift incorporates humor into his argument by subtly roasting England and their actions. He uses the metaphor of cannibalism and the need for survival to bash on England for how selfish they were. When saying “a country”, he is referring to England and how they would react if this was happening to them and not the Irish. is can open up the audience to kids who will study this piece of literature in the future so they can enjoy its subtle humor and understand his language. Swift gracefully covers all four criteria in this proposal and furthered his credibility and persuasiveness.

Jonathan Swift supports his argument in creative and intelligent ways by making strategic rhetorical decisions and demonstrating the four criteria in his proposal. Swift uses specific diction and multiple metaphors to express his true belief on this situation. He makes himself sound profoundly educated, and he showed a real passion towards the lives of the Irish. He dealt with great concern over this subject and made himself express it in a way so that a majority of the literate public could understand. is proposal teaches the reader a lot about communicat-

ing the importance of something to someone and how to do it correctly. Swift’ s bravery and commitment to this event in time will forever be acknowledged and will always ensure him a great deal of credibility in his argument and ability to persuade any audience of his side. His style of writing and choice in phrasing makes people wonder, is his “Modest Proposal” actually modest, or is it simply ironic?

Modest, Immodest, or Both?

B C

The main goal of satire is to use humor and constructive criticism to indirectly or directly attack a targeted person or group. Jonathan Swift is very well known for his satirical arguments in the English language. In his essay, “A Modest Proposal” he uses the Juvenalian form of satire which is contemptuous and abrasive so that it is a direct attack on the target and in this case the wealthy upper class of Ireland. Richard Hodgart also writes an essay titled Satire which breaks down the effectiveness and the way satire is and was used. In his essay, he points out four major criteria that satire is required to include in order to strengthen an argument. ese four points are related to “A Modest Proposal”, and also help develop the argument. Swift is very good at establishing his credibility and persuading the reader through his use of rhetoric. roughout the entire essay, he uses ethos, pathos, and many forms of irony to build and make his argument stronger. is essay is not exactly what one would expect when reading the title. How can eating your child to save the economy be defined as a “modest proposal”? Swift later on in the essay explains why he feels the need that this should happen. But later on explains how he doesn’t want it to happen, this is the major form of irony that he uses. Also, the organization and style