Bayeux

A Surprise Ending

Jreia Jackson

HUM 112

1/25/2012

Swift’s A Modest Proposal is the prime example of a satire. Using the definition of a satire to a tee, Swift ridicules an entire country for their abuses, or their people. Usually a satire also uses wit and clever wording—and sometimes makes outrageous assertions or claims. A Modest Proposal does just that with its surprise ending and gives new meaning to the term outrageous.

The essay begins by pointing out just how poor the people of Ireland are. "....streets, the roads and cabin-doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning every passenger for an alms. (J.S., A modest proposal) followed shortly by giving reasons for his proposal like stopping the mothers from aborting their babies so much.

The thing that surprised me the most about swift's proposal is how he words his thoughts or ideas. "I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection." (J.S., A modest proposal) Only for Swift to then state that infants are a great robust food. The only thing that ran thru my mind the moment I read that was what? Did I miss something?

I'm pretty sure that no matter how your look at it, no matter if it’s the 1700's or 2000's, and most people would find this disturbing. It does indeed capture the reader’s attention with such a surprising proposal. Just how disturbing does have to be to even consider such a thing but I don't really think he wants people to take him seriously. He just wants people to actually look at the problem and maybe, just maybe if more people looked into the matter it can become better faster.

References

http://pd.sparknotes.com/lit/modestproposal/section1.html

http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/ModProposal.html