Free Essays - Sarcasm and Irony in A Modest Proposal :: Swift Modest Proposal Essays

Sarcasm and Irony inA Modest scheme InA Modest Proposal, by Jonathan quick, the main objective was to slang attention to the plight of the Irish people and motivate readers to find a workable solution. blue-belly shows the readers his proposal mainly through irony. Irony hind end be defined as expressing the opposite of what is meant. This is a great proficiency of the sense of humor used in the proposal and in Swift. mavin of the voices that are bear throughout the story is that of irony. The story itself is ironic since no wiz can take Swifts proposal seriously. This irony is clearly demonstrate at the end of the story Swift makes it clear that this proposal would non affect him since his children were grown and his wife unable to have any more children. It would be rather absurd to think that a rational universe would want to both propose this and partake in the eating of former(a) human being. Therefore, before an canalization can continue, one has to make the presu mptuousness that this is strictly a fictional work and Swift had no purpose of pursuing his proposal any further. One of the other voices that are present throughout the entire story is that of sarcasm. Right from the first paragraph Swift attempts to fool his readers by the sarcasm of the dreary scene that Swift presents. For example, he mentions that it is a melancholy sight to see beggars and their children on the street. The sarcastic paradox in this statement is whether it is a melancholy object for him, having to see homeless person people every day, or for the beggars lifestyle? Upon first reading this one may be led to believe that Swift is a human writer attempting to feel the pain of the beggars. But as the story continues, a reader can look back and note that he is victimization a sarcastic tone and the only sad sight that he sees is the fact that people of his status have to deal with commoners. It is a unspoilt combination that makes the reader think twice about any other statements, and the voice used, after the first paragraph. Also, one could argue that the whole scope of the story must be taken into account. First of all, one must take into account the environment in which the story was written. During this time period, the beggars that Swift describes could not read, much less afford to buy one of Swifts works.