Reading Assignment #4

[Dr. Raymond Oenbring]

English 120 (Oenbring)
Reading Response #4


Your forth reading response is to Jonathan Swift's famous satire essay "A Modest Proposal." Try to answer the following questions:

« What makes the piece effective? What makes the satirical tone effective?
« What rhetorical devices does Swift use?

Give examples from the text to support your analysis.

This should be a post to the message board.

Length: 300 words
Due date: Tuesday, October 27th at 10 pm.

[Anjozel Rahming]

Anjozel Rahming
October 27, 2009
English 120 – 02
4th Reading Assignment

“A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift

“A Modest Proposal” is a satirical composition written by Jonathan Swift in 1729. Swift suggests throughout the essay that the impoverished citizens of Ireland could relieve their hunger for a better life by selling their children as if they are poultry to the wealthy in society. The beginning of the essay illustrates the economic troubles of Ireland as Swift states many people are starving; however his solution to the impoverished is shockingly revealed by saying:
"A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout."
Swift’s aim is for the audience to be appalled by the writer, and his satirical method of writing helps develop pathos throughout the essay by constantly reminding the reader of the distasteful solution. However, the satirical tone becomes complicated since his manipulative approach to pity the Irish is seen as obscene; this type of tone is effective, however rare to find in persuasive speeches. I find his use of rhetorical devices refreshing to read since it is unusual. Swift’s use of persuasive methods creates an influential argument giving his ideas a sense of authority (ethos) allowing the reader to give into his ludicrous proposal to eat children. Ethos is a rhetorical device often used in the proposal giving his argument validity. An example of his cultural knowledge is the statement ”I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled ...”
Swift enhances the satirical effects by stating the Irish mothers will be relieved of their maternal duties by getting “rid the charge of maintaining.” His authoritative tone encourages the reader to trust his proposal advancing his satire.

[majesty115]

In " A modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift he aims to expose the plight of the poor in Ireland. This piece is satirical in the way he brings to light how nothing is being done to help the oppressed. His tone of irony is effective in that he explains that many are destitute because many persons turn a blind eye to their situation. Pathos is emplyed throughout this piece. In Paragraph 1, " Crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags." This image invokes deep sympathy by the reader to envision children in this condition. It is implied that these children are malnourished, chronicly sick, and appear worse for the wear. Ethos is another strategy utilized by the author. In the abstract preceeding the piece it states that Swift was born and raised in Ireland. His account of this situation is credible because he witnesses this heartwrenching situation on a daily basis. Swift calls attention to this melancholy and unjust situation by his poignant words. In this piece there are clear undertones of resentment. He not only ridicules and shows disdain for the way the downtrodden are treated but he shows disdain for the Roman Catholics by referring to them as "popish" which is a derogatory term. This speaks volumes and reflects his intolerance for them. This piece was also intended to shock the reader. It exposes the turmoil and unrest in The United Kingdom, the oppression of so many of its inhabitants and the apparent flippant attitude towards the poor. He uses a callous approach when speaking of the situation but only on a superficial level. His apparent indifferent attitude is used to show the attitude society has adopted when dealing with the poor. This outlandish theory insinuates that if society had their way they would probably not hesitate to purge the community of these unsightly peasants.

[majesty115]

majesty115 is livalia stuart

[tsuki]

Just to say, i didn't do the Johnathan Swift response because I wanted something a bit different, and not long ^_^, not because I was offened.

[tsuki]

Joanne Turnquest
Reading response # 4 (What’s more important?)
In her essay, Marjorie Downie asks the question, “What’s more important?” Downie debates whether traditional values such as commitment, ethics and love, are even necessary. Somewhere deep down inside, I wished that she was being satirical, but that’s obviously not the case. As a whole, Downie’s essay is fallacious, yet strangely appeals to our three Greek friends: ethos, logos and pathos, in combination with rhetorical questions.
Being an Associate professor in the school of English, she attempts to make some appeal towards her credibility. However, it is unfathomable of how she immensely fails. Simply because she is an associate professor in the school of English, by no means validates her to speak of what’s more important to the Bahamian society! If anything, she is worthy to correct my grammatical errors. Her credibility is irrelevant; at best insufficient.
In addition, Downie’s rhetorical and manipulation of statistics makes effective use of logos. In her essay, she asks the question; “Why would anyone want to enmesh themselves in a flawed, archaic practice”, like marriage, “that has better than a fifty percent chance of failure?” She believes that marriage is not even worth the thought, time or challenge! If a glass is half empty, it is also half full. If there is a chance of failure, then there is a chance of success. Her appeal to logic is fallacious! There is not even a source to support it. I believe this is a mere attempt by Downie to justify fornication.
Finally, Marjorie Downie makes full use of her masterful linguistic skills to appeal to a side of us that we aim to please, yet strive to hide. This appeal is none other than pathos. Downie, with her alluring rhetorical questions, tries to make us agree with her selfishness and laziness, appealing to our fleshly emotions. She asks the question; “Why work hard for a living if you can get away with just pretending?” Downie believes that “It’s fine to take what you want – just don’t get caught”. To some pitiful, desperate person, this is just an excuse, justifying their crime. It is NOT okay to take something that does not belong to you! If a person steals from you, do you say, “Oh….I don’t care. I didn’t catch him so he can have it.” No! What kind of reasoning is that? Fallacious it what it is! This is a bit more alone the lines of thought; “When I catch that son of a gun he’ll wish he wasn’t born!” Of course, not all of us are as kind with words as I am.
Clearly, Marjorie Downie a bit of a demented, deceptive, deluded, flesh glorifying brute, with no regard to honor! Ninety-nine point one percent of her essay is fallacious, and solely deserves publication because of her crafty linguistics

[malloryjohnson]

In the article 'A Modest Proposal', Jonathon Swift ironically provides a solution for the poor residence in his country. Instead of the poor mothers and fathers struggling to support their children they should offer them as food to those who are able to afford it. This piece is effective because of the satirical tone that is used to convey his point of view.
His satirical tone not only grabs the reader's attention, it gives the reader a harsh sense of reality of what is truly going on within the country and helps to intensify and support his cruel solution.
The rhetorical devices used by Swift include Logos and Pathos. According to Swift "the maintenance of an hundred thousand children, from two years old and upward, cannot be computed at less than ten shillings a-piece per annum, the nation's stock will be thereby increased fifty thousand pounds per annum". Also he states that "he has computed the charge of nursing a beggar's child to be about two shillings per annum, rags included". These statements not only back up his claim but they are also examples of logos. As for pathos, Swift states that his scheme"will prevent those voluntary abortions, sacrificing the poor innocent babes I doubt more to avoid the expense than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhumane breast".
This article, although ironic, is a cruel way of solving the problem of poverty within Dublin. That being said, Swift was successful in conveying a very strong point of view and at the same time bringing to light a very serious problem that was faces by families in his country.

[chart]

Cie Jay Hart

A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift

“A Modest Proposal” is a sardonic masterpiece written by Jonathan Swift. Swift suggests throughout the essay that the poor citizens of Ireland could relieve their hunger for a better life by selling their children. The beginning of the essay illustrates the economic troubles of Ireland as Swift states many people are starving; however his solution to the poverty is awfully revealed by saying, "A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout." Although this statement is a horrible thought for a mother to think of , he is simply given the reader a wake up call to harsh reality, that is going on in Ireland. Although, the writer’s solution to Ireland’s poverty is despicable, it still makes the reader think maybe it could be the only solution for the poor.
The rhetorical devices used by Swift include Logos and Pathos. An example of his use of pathos is when he says, “will prevent those voluntary abortions, sacrificing the poor innocent babes I doubt more to avoid the expense than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhumane breast". And for the logos he uses this as an example, “the maintenance of an hundred thousand children, from two years old and upward, cannot be computed at less than ten shillings a-piece per annum, the nation's stock will be thereby increased fifty thousand pounds per annum".
In conclusion, the title of the article “A Modest Proposal,” seems to be a use of irony, because eating children or selling children is not a modest proposal to the solving of poverty. However, the writer did get his point of view across which is that there is a desperate need of a solution for poverty in Ireland.