Modest proposal analysis

Transitioning from a serious and fact driven essay to a sarcastic and absurd proposal in A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift employs shocking absurdity, epigrammatic burlesque and vivid diction to create a humorous and unrealistic solution for a serious problem.

            Swift, after addressing the crisis in Ireland, uses shocking absurdity to propose his interesting solution. He would do such things as describe in detail the many uses for children. “I have been assured by a very knowing American acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed, is at a year old, o most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed , roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricasie, or a ragoust.” It is not socially expectable to eat children and suggesting such ideas is absurd. “Infant’s flesh will be in season throughout the year.” He talks about infants flesh will always be in season. This is a ridiculous thing to say as it isn’t acceptable to eat children. “Although I recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs.” Swift liked used disturbing statements about cooking the children. The way he made his essay absurd helped to make his proposal humorous.

            Swift also utilizes epigrammatic burlesque in his essay. He is able to describe his humorous subject matter in a very serious and clever way. “I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration that of the hundred and twenty thousand children already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only one-fourth part to be males; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle or swine; and my reason is, that these children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore one male will be sufficient to serve four females.” The way he proposes his ideas and facts makes the reader feel like his is serious, which makes the essay hilarious. “I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar's child (in which list I reckon all cottagers, laborers, and four-fifths of the farmers) to be about two shillings per annum, rags included; and I believe no gentleman would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child, which, as I have said, will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat, when he hath only some particular friend or his own family to dine with him.” Swift would state serious facts and use those facts to support his ridiculous ideas. He also proposes the many uses for children, also in a very serious manner. “Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flay the carcass; the skin of which artificially dressed will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen.”
            Swift also uses vivid diction all throughout his essay. “Many other advantages might be enumerated. For instance, the addition of some thousand carcasses in our exportation of barreled beef, the propagation of swine's flesh, and improvement in the art of making good bacon, so much wanted among us by the great destruction of pigs, too frequent at our tables; which are no way comparable in taste or magnificence to a well-grown, fat, yearling child, which roasted whole will make a considerable figure at a lord mayor's feast or any other public entertainment. But this and many others I omit, being studious of brevity.” As he wrote this essay he carefully chose his words and the words he chose were well thought out and help to both make this humorous but at the same time expose a real problem. “I have too long digressed, and therefore shall return to my subject. I think the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious and many, as well as of the highest importance.” Swift was able to choose words that made him sound smart and serious. “Thirdly, Whereas 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, beside the profit of a new dish introduced to the tables of all gentlemen of fortune in the kingdom who have any refinement in taste.” By making himself sound smarter it makes the essay feel like it should apply to a high class audience when in reality it is about eating children.
            In A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift employs shocking absurdity, epigrammatic burlesque and vivid diction to create a humorous and unrealistic solution for a serious problem. Swift is able to expose true world flaws in his humorous essay. Though this essay seems to be just funny, when looking deeper the reader can find true meaning behind it.