Why did Jonathan Swift use satire in a modest proposal?

2 years ago

2 minutes

Eighteenth century writer Jonathan Swift was a master of satire, and his essay, A Modest Proposal, addresses the poverty and oppression suffered by the Irish people at the hands of their English landlords. Swift uses satire to draw attention to the issue; he then presents real solutions to the problem.

How does the author of modest proposal use satire?

Swift uses satire throughout his proposal, by suggesting to the people of Ireland that they should harvest the little children of the poor. Swift stated that by making ”Them Beneficial to the Public”, Ireland would be in a better circumstance.

What is the purpose of Swift’s satire?

The purpose of Swift’s satirical essay is to call attention to the problems that were being experienced by the people of Ireland. He wanted the English (who ruled Ireland) to realize what they were doing and to put in place reforms that would solve the problems they had helped to cause.

What is the modest proposal satirizing?

The essay satirized other economic proposals of the time that Swift saw as treating people as commodities. Based on the title of Swift’s essay, the phrase a modest proposal has become a way to introduce an outrageous or very out-there idea, suggestion, or plan, especially one offered in jest.

Why is the proposal a satire?

Answer: Explanation: to be more precise, satire exposes the drawbacks of an individual or of a society, in order to bring about reform. The play is about the tendency of wealthy families to seek ties with other wealthy families, to increase their estates by encouraging marriages that make good economic sense.

Why does Jonathan Smith use satire in A Modest Proposal apex?

Jonathan Swift exemplifies his usage of satire in his essay to address social and government issues, lower class abuses, this was a way to prevent the children of the poor from being a burden to their parents and/or country and making them beneficial to the people of the country.