An Altruistic Cannibal
Irish-born Socialist and playwright George Bernard Shaw once satirically said, “Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people .” Jonathan Swift, in his 18th century pamphlet A Modest Proposal, would surely agree to Mr. Shaw’s satire. Swift himself parodies this notion in a way that seeks to bring to light the ridiculousness of his English contemporaries. The absurd proposal allows him to communicate his sympathy for the people of Ireland whom he felt the English were profoundly mistreating. Swift employs irony along with parody by using what he masks as rational logic and compassion to highlight the ludicrous. A Modest Proposal can be considered an extraordinary example of an ironic parody through Swift’s tone, diction, and the shear absurdity contained in his proposition.By utilizing a formal and rational tone, Swift allows the reader to be able to notice subtly the satire being developed. From the mission statement resolution onward in the pamphlet style document, the reader must suspect that Swift is parodying the social scientists of his time. The scientific and logical manner in which he
Swift’s use of ironic parody in A Modest Proposal subtly establishes a profound premise which issues a direct challenge to the objects of his parody. The Irish-fed English-bred as he saw them were surely to realize that the ridiculousness conveyed in the pamphlet mirrored their own actions. Although he states his motive in a moment of irony, Swift best communicates his intentions by saying, “I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good of my country” (2479). formulates the argument creates a sense of seriousness that the subject at hand must be addressed and solved with a concrete plan of action. After calculating the number of children who are to be born annually to parents who simply cannot afford to care for them, Swift retorts, “The question therefore is, how this number shall be reared and provided for, which, as I have already said, under the present situation of affairs, is utterly impossible by all the methods hitherto proposed” (2474). The practicality conveyed in his thoughts evokes a sense of irony in that the overriding scheme being proposed is so outlandish. His tone reflects a dual sense of efficiency and concern as well, by first acknowledging the seriousness of the problem at hand and then proposing an answer which, from the mindset of a parody alone, would be in the best interest of everyone. His apparent rationality is asserted when he diplomatically states, “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” (2479). The projection illustrated by such statements is one of a logical, compassionate, and benevolent man, all as an attempt by Swift to parody the ridiculousness he witnesses in his own time. Yet it may be that it is not the completely shocking or offensive suggestions made by references to broiling and dining on a human child that exemplifies Swift’s perception most profoundly, but rather
Some topics in this essay:
Irish Swift,
Modest Proposal,
Irish-fed English-bred,
Bernard Shaw,
Ireland English,
ironic parody,
Jonathan Swift,
modest proposal,
Irish-born Socialist,
swift’s ironic parody,
tone diction,
twenty thousand,
irony parody,
swift parodies,
swift suggests,
swift employs,
unreasonable people,
children delight,
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Approximate Word count = 1418
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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