When asked of the quality of a piece of writing, you must first ask yourself what is its purpose. In the case of Jonathon Swift's "The Modest Proposal", the piece is a satire, and so we must first find out what satire is. .
The term satire, which is more easily recognised than defined, commonly refers to a specific genre or simply a style or tone in literature that employs wit to point out, in a mocking or humorous manner, the maliciousness of individuals, groups, or even the whole of mankind, usually in order to prompt a response. .
Satire may describe an entire work, a passage, or simply a tone. However, although the term's applications may vary, its characteristics are shared. A satirical work or tone will employ comedy or humour; will have a target and an ideal to compare it to; will intend to punish or cure; and will evoke amusement and/or contempt.
Satirists, in there own unique way, are on a mission to bring justice, morality, and virtue to the world. Through their writing the are facing "evil" and are attempting to annoy or slow down its audience from continuing their detrimental behaviour.
Satire is perhaps the most characteristic from of eighteenth century British writing and contemporary American writing. The best satire must fool you into thinking that the speaker is being extremely serious, and only really at the end may the reader realise, "Oh my God, was that really what was meant?".
One of the main examples of satirical devices used in the text is irony. The story itself is ironic since no one can take Swift's proposal seriously. This irony is clearly demonstrated at the end of the story; Swift makes it clear that this proposal would not 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 man would want to both propose this and partake in the eating of another human being. Therefore, before an analysis can continue, one has to make the assumption that this is strictly a fictional work and Swift had no intention of pursuing his proposal any further.
