English 2610

True, "A Modest Proposal" is definitely a shocking, and ever "repulsive" piece of literature, but it is literature nonetheless. Many people are too quick to dismiss literature that explores such taboo and abnormal principles that they end up missing the point the author was trying to convey. "A Modest Proposal" and other such startling literature is great because it forces its audience to confront the bracing realities that they have either ignored or have refused to confront.

Swift's work serves well as satire because of the way he sets it up. At first, he sets the stage to portray the poor state of the people in Ireland, thus helping the reader feel sympathy for them. When he first mentions the basic idea of his argument, I wasn't sure if he was being serious or not. As one gets deeper into Swift's "proposal," however, it is made quite clear through his rhetorical strategies that he is making a political statement, not a literal proposal to eat Ireland's babies. Through the use of blatant sarcasm, ironies, and exaggeration, Swift was able to deliver a fierce deliverance to the leaders of Ireland in an effort to open their eyes to the terrible state of Ireland and the fact that something needed to be done.