¶ … Modest Proposal
When did the surprise ending become clear in Swift's short story "A Modest Proposal"? And how successful was Swift in convincing a reader of the validity of the surprise ending? These points will be covered and critiqued in this paper.
At what point in the story did it become clear Swift would have a different ending?
When did it become clear that Swift couldn't possibly go any further in his grim, morally objectionable analysis of how to solve the problem of abortions, of hunger, of the economic problems in Dublin -- and numerous other problems? The answer to that question is to be found on the next to the last page of the story. That's when he begins to turn away from his own ghastly proposal.
When he writes, "But as to myself, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts…" the reader senses a turning of the tide in his outrageous ideas. He is weary, he has tried so many other ideas, and while this particular proposal, he insists, is "solid and real," and while it will not cost anything to government, it is a nice way of offending -- "disobliging" -- England, which the Irish people were more than happy to do. This is a softer tack than he took earlier....
Just as in Swift, we find in Cervantes social criticism, irony and sarcasm as well as the satirical method and exaggeration and allusion as methods. Humor was also used centuries earlier in Don Quixote as well. Cervantes is as gifted and accomplished of a satirist as Swift. For instance, Cervantes humorously has Don Quixote jousting windmills who are giants that he is preparing to deprive of life. This is an
By focusing on elements such as how the babies should be fattened up, served, and prepared Swift actually minimizes the horror of his proposal. In addition, by mentioning the fact that some of his "breeders" already seek to terminate their children, whether through abortion or by killing newborns, Swift continues to minimize the horror of his proposal. After all, the thought of ripping a year-old babe from the arms
But I say, then get another job and leave your occupation to a hardier soul who is willing to run farther! If it's short enough for you to pump carbon monoxide into the air, it's short enough for you to run the distance! For the handicapped -- let them use racing wheelchairs! Tone up those arms! If people have to run to work and walk to the supermarket, they will
It stands as proof of the fact that people are more powerful than nature when it comes to the confrontation between the two. People have to abandon all prejudices when coming across the concept of global warming and start thinking about methods of profiting from the overall state of affairs. This process is actually preventing numerous individuals from focusing on one of the most important matters in the contemporary society-money.
Jonathan Swift wrote “A Modest Proposal” in 1729 as piece of political satire, or as Cody (2000) puts it, a “disgusted parody” and a “savage indictment,” (p. 1). As it falls within the genre of satire, there is a healthy dose of humor embedded in the text but also rich political commentary as well. As both the course text and Cody (2000) point out, Swift was concerned about issues like
Jonathan Swift's "A Modest proposal" is a satirical work that draws the reader in, defining and describing a social problem of poor families with children they are unable to feed. The surprise is not revealed at the end, but part the way through the work, where the suggestion of cannibalism is made. Swift suggests that a solution which will help alleviate poverty and the strain placed on families to feed
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