Irony in Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal - 1101 Words

Rhetorical strategies are techniques, which are used to make one’s writings more effective. The choice of rhetoric strategy depends on the type of subject being discussed. The effectiveness of appropriate strategy is directly related to the mood, which is to be created and maintained. For example if someone is criticizing the government, the tome is usually kept serious and Irony and satire are widely used in such writings. On the other hand while describing the recent developments in genetic engineering, the tone would be objective and humor or satire would be ineffective here. Jonathan Swift was famous for his sarcastic remarks on the government of his days and his works are full of satire and irony which appear to be humorous but†¦show more content†¦But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known that they are every day dying and rotting by cold and famine, and filth and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected.† Swift was not the only one who applied the technique of irony to convey his message more effectively, there were several other people who from time to time have made use of satire with irony to comment on or oppose to certain views and ideas. Martin Luther King Jr. was the champion of human rights who spoke extensively for the rights of African-Americans. He became an icon for the black community because of his highly emotional speeches and his writings, which focused on the subject of equal rights for black men and women in the United States. His â€Å"Letters from the Birmingham jail† are valued for their emotional content and their comments on his own activities. These letters cannot exactly be termed satirical or ironical in tone. In fact compared to Swift’s works, King’s letters would probably appear polite. But there are certain portions where he has used irony very effectively for example in his response to clergymen who had criticized King’s activities, he said in his letter, â€Å"While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities â€Å"unwise and untimely.† Seldom do IShow MoreRelatedJonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal949 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"A Modest Proposal† by Jonathan Swift takes place in Dublin Ireland in the 18th century. The narrator is a very ironic character. His â€Å"modest† proposal is anything but modest. This short story takes place during a famine. Since there was a famine, Swift proposes the idea that people sell their one year old children to the rich so they would not be a burden to their family. One important way in which the author engages the audience’s attention and tries to help his readers see deeper politicalRead MoreModest Proposal Analysis Essay1122 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"A Modest Proposal† is an essay written by Jonathan Swift as a reaction to the social problem faced by the Irish in 1720’s. Swift’s daring dark and social satire and dark irony to make a statement in this literary work triggered the minds of the rich Englishmen and Irish landlords to question their actions towards the poor Irish people. By giving a drop of horror and barbarity sarcastically, Swift was able to attack the practices of those who were seated in power and exploited the rights of the impoverishedRead MoreSatire of a Modest Proposal Essay1331 Words   |  6 PagesIrony is a beautiful technique exercised to convey a message or call a certain group of people to action. This rhetorical skill is artfully used by Jonathan Swift in his pamphlet â€Å"A Modest Proposal.† The main argument for this mordantly ironic essay is to capture the attention of a disconnected and indifferent audience. Swift makes his point by stringing together a dreadfully twisted set of morally untenable positions in order to cast blame and aspersions on his intended audience. Jonathan Swift’sRead MoreA Modest Proposal For Preventing The Children Of Poor People1458 Words   |  6 Pagesliterature is Jonathan Swift, whose hard-hitting essay â€Å"A Modest Proposal For Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland, from Being a Burden on Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick† is one of the most popular and analyzed texts within the world of satire, and truly makes one think about the art. One article that explores Swift’s use of satire within â€Å"A Modest Proposal† is Paddy Bullord’s â€Å"The Scriblerian Mock-Arts† This essay delves deeply into Swift’s works, andRead Mo reEssay about A Modest Proposal, by Jonathan Swift1165 Words   |  5 PagesIrony is a beautiful technique exercised to convey a message or call a certain group of people to action. This rhetorical skill is artfully used by Jonathan Swift in his pamphlet â€Å"A Modest Proposal.† The main argument for this bitingly ironic essay is to capture the attention of a disconnected and indifferent audience. Swift makes his point by stringing together a dreadfully twisted set of morally untenable positions in order to cast blame and aspersions on his intended audience. Jonathan Swift’sRead MoreJonathan Swift Satire Analysis1108 Words   |  5 Pagesomparing Irony In both Mark Twain and Jonathan Swift’s articles there is an effective use of irony. Irony in satirical writing is normally used for the speaker to convey the opposite intended meaning to which they are stating; along with antiphrasis, the use of a word when the opposite meaning is implied, irony makes a valuable asset to satirical literature. The sarcastic use of irony was input to both readings to express the writer’s disappointment towards their societies teachings during theirRead MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift860 Words   |  4 Pageswas informed to read â€Å"A Modest Proposal† by Jonathan Swift as an assignment for creating annotated bibliographies, I began to develop an interest on how Swift came about the matter of his request into rebuilding Ireland s economy and way of life. I believed that Swift added cannibalizing children to the subject matter to give his proposal a more profound and eye-opening effect, but my readings further piqued my in terests on the topic. As a result, I researched Jonathan Swift’s motives and style behindRead MoreThe Satirical Nature of Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal Essay example662 Words   |  3 Pages A Modest Proposal The satirical essay â€Å"A Modest Proposal† written and published in in 1729 by an Anglo- Irish man named Jonathan Swift, in response to the worsening conditions of Ireland, was one of his most controversial and severe writings of his time. The narrator in Swift’s essay â€Å"A Modest Proposal† argues for a drastic and radical end to poverty in Ireland. Swift’s proposal suggests that the needy, poor people of Ireland can ease their troubles simply by selling their children as food toRead MoreEssay on A Modest Proposal: Satire at Its Best643 Words   |  3 PagesA Modest Proposal: Satire at Its Best Jonathan Swifts 1729 essay, A Modest Proposal, was a true example of satire at its best. Many readers at the time rejected the essay because they failed to understand the irony. It is presently one of the most well known works of satire and is a classic example of the technique most commonly used today. The entire essay from the title down to the last sentence were meant to be taken ironically, which is a rare form, but very effective when trying gettingRead MoreA Modest Proposal Analysis Essay1465 Words   |  6 PagesA Modest Proposal Literary Analysis By J--- ----------- J--- ----------- Mr. H----- Period 6 2 May 2011 Jonathan Swift’s Use of Satire and Exaggeration Satire is a form of literature in which an author tries to demonstrate his or her point of view by ridiculing. The author uses heavy irony and sarcasm in order to criticize a social issue. A perfect example of a work of satire is Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal. In this satirical essay, Jonathan Swift attacks on the issue of the