Analysis of A Modest Proposal by Jonathon Swift
Tantalus, king of Sipylos, was distinctively favored among the mortals of Greece. He had a banquet, which he invited gods and goddesses, major or minor, to feast. He didn’t know of any dish worthy to be served to the immortals, so he sacrificed his most valuable possession, his son Pelops, to be made the main dish. The gods found out and punished Tantalus to be immersed neck deep in water with a fruit tree above him, always thirsty but never able to drink, always hungry but never able to eat, for water and fruit shifted from his reach. In this excerpt from A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift ridicules British rule and develops a design to end unemployment, poverty, and deaths in Ireland. He proposes an idea so outlandish, so unorthodox, that it cannot help but catch his readers’ attention. His deliberate language, convoluted style, and underlying tone contribute to the sarc
Jonathan Swift’s piece affected the more intelligent, causing the government to attempt to help the poor, homeless, and unemployed. His sarcasm bit and gnawed viciously in a way that enabled the British to realize their folly and perhaps for the rich to assist where they can. astic effect on his piece, accomplishing its goal, conveying its message. Swift attests his friend’s merit humbly while he continues upon his absurd idea of sacrificing youths for the good of Ireland. His bombastic manner and repetition of his friend’s qualities, “very worthy person”, “true lover of his country”, “whose virtues I highly esteem”, add to his sardonic tone, leading up to an additional idea, one that rids current “grievances”. In saying that there was a new source of “venison” for the “gentlemen” of the country, he mentions that the rich young men have “of
Some topics in this essay:
Jonathan Swift,
,
Jonathan Swift’s,
water fruit,
help poor,
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Approximate Word count = 592
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)
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