A Modest Proposal And Angela's Ashes
It seems like there is no pot of gold for the Irish. In both “A Modest Proposal”, written by Jonathan Swift, and Angela’s Ashes, written by Frank McCourt, Ireland is portrayed as the land of the poor. Although they were from a different time period and age when they wrote their piece, they both touch on the same subject and seem to be sympathetic towards it.
When describing the poor, Swift and McCourt each had their own description. Swift describes, not himself, but other people he saw. For example, when he writes, “It is a melancholy object to those who walk through his great town, or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabbin- doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six …show more content…
Although Swift uses a sarcastic tone with some hints of exaggeration, he utilizes that humor to express his real concern. For example, when he says, “... 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 friscasie, or a ragoust.” (¶15-16), he exaggerates on his proposal by saying we should solve the issue by eating people and uses sarcasm when he lists ways that the kids can be prepared. Although it seems like Swift is trustfully proposing it, he has a greater motive, which is to get his point across to his audience. McCourt’s attitude towards poverty is seen in a more formal way, compared to Swift’s. From the beginning, McCourt explains the toll that poverty had on his life. When he states that “Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood… the poverty: the shiftless loquacious alcoholic father; the pious defeated mother moaning by the fire; pompous priests, bullying schoolmasters; the English and the terrible things they did to us for eight hundred long years” (McCourt 11), it is obvious that he detested the life he lived as an Irish Catholic child in the filths of poverty. He also seems to have a bitter attitude towards poverty and his usage of miserable and worse yet is a clear indication that he detests poverty. In his statement he also mentions the English and the terrible things they did, implying a historical
When describing the poor, Swift and McCourt each had their own description. Swift describes, not himself, but other people he saw. For example, when he writes, “It is a melancholy object to those who walk through his great town, or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabbin- doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six …show more content…
Although Swift uses a sarcastic tone with some hints of exaggeration, he utilizes that humor to express his real concern. For example, when he says, “... 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 friscasie, or a ragoust.” (¶15-16), he exaggerates on his proposal by saying we should solve the issue by eating people and uses sarcasm when he lists ways that the kids can be prepared. Although it seems like Swift is trustfully proposing it, he has a greater motive, which is to get his point across to his audience. McCourt’s attitude towards poverty is seen in a more formal way, compared to Swift’s. From the beginning, McCourt explains the toll that poverty had on his life. When he states that “Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood… the poverty: the shiftless loquacious alcoholic father; the pious defeated mother moaning by the fire; pompous priests, bullying schoolmasters; the English and the terrible things they did to us for eight hundred long years” (McCourt 11), it is obvious that he detested the life he lived as an Irish Catholic child in the filths of poverty. He also seems to have a bitter attitude towards poverty and his usage of miserable and worse yet is a clear indication that he detests poverty. In his statement he also mentions the English and the terrible things they did, implying a historical