By Jonathan Swift [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Swiftian Satire
While
reading “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathon Swift, the message that he was trying
to bring about was quite clear, the living conditions of the poor needs to be
changed. He uses both Horace and Juvenal
methods to bring this issue into the light, in hopes that someone would see how
grotesque the situation is. His suggestion of mother’s selling their babies to the rich for food, along with the suggestion that the babies skins could be used for fashionable wear is quite extreme and I feel that he used that suggestion in his satire to let the public know that the needs of the poor are just as extreme. Yet, he does it in a humorous and illogical way so as not to offend society’s elite.
In the end, he does take a more serious tone to ask his readers for compassion and charity to those less fortunate. At first, I thought that this was a very dark satire then as I read on I came to believe that is was actually an ingenious way to get attention towards what he sees as a growing problem.
I like the idea that this was both serious and humorous at the same time. It helped to address the issue at hand in a non threatening way. I think though, he did show a very logical sense to it. He made it seem that if the issue was really broke down in this way that it could make sense.
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
ReplyDeleteI thought your response to Swift's "Modest Proposal" was great! It was very direct and clearly explained to the reader. For those who had trouble understanding the story they would be able to come to your response and get a better understanding. It was very simple and right to the point. Some people start to lose my interest because they add unnecessary comments which makes me lose focus. Great Job!
Molly
Yes I believe he brought the problem to light, in an interesting way. Almost taking the most drastic unreal way to solve the issue, and the way he wrote you took him serious. Very good response to give a clearer summary.
ReplyDelete