A Modest Proposal Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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Pages: 3
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Angel Younghanz
Mr.Pitts
AP Lang
November 13 2016

“A Modest Proposal” Rhetorical Analysis

A pamphlet was introduced in the late seventeenth century that mocked Ireland's backward ideology with satirical ideas that reflect the system's attitude towards the lower class citizens . Jonathan Swift the author of “Modest Proposal” addressed the upper class with realistic, but harsh ideas that consist of inhuman thoughts and intentions. He often refers to eating children and exporting their parts for profit, but with a sensitive topic he invokes the readers to think about the ridiculousness of his ideas, and that government truly does not care. Swift uses tone, irony, and sarcasm to criticize high-status people in Ireland, and point out the …show more content…
Swift stated not only that babies are good for eating but good for profit. That their body parts can be used as “admirable gloves for ladies” and “summer boots for fine gentlemen”(95) and can be a great export for around the world. Swift used certain language and diction to criticize wealthy class citizens, with words like “admirable” and “fine” can anger the wealthy since they live off of the poor. Then proceed to charge the children body parts of “ten shillings,”but earlier he had stated that a baby would cost “ above the value of two shillings,”(20) thus making his argument satirical and unserious. Swift took advantage of this opportunity to use rhetoric to criticize Ireland’s government and express unserious ideas to invoke change in mentality or actions and uses tone, irony, and sarcasm to help readers understand the real issues. “ A Modest Proposal” is still a great source of analysis and a prominent example of using rhetoric at its finest, but it’s conflicting to this day. As Swift wrote this with extraordinary language and learns to truly appeal to the reader's thoughts, and completely blows away the audience. His critical and satirical writing generates a whole new world of
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