Dehumanizing Diction In A Modest Proposal
In the 1700’s, Ireland was in social and economic disarray, the turbulent economy rendering many unable to climb out of the pit of poverty into which they had fallen. In his pamphlet, “A Modest Proposal,” Jonathan Swift, an Irish author, addressed these issues which had arisen in Irish society. In order to persuade the Irish government to right the social and economic wrongs that were afflicting Irish society, Swift used numerical values, inflicted guilt upon his audience, and included dehumanizing diction. Swift’s use of numerical values in his pamphlet assists him in effectively conveying his purpose to his audience by making his argument logically appealing. In a written work that is obviously very sarcastic, the inclusion of numbers makes
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It is in those first few paragraphs that Swift begins talking of children as if they are a good and far from human, referring to them as a “commodity.” Furthermore, Swift refers to the mothers of these “commodities” as “professed beggars” who rely solely on the monetary support of strangers on the street to provide food for their starving children. Swift’s dehumanization of poor children is intended to, in part, mimic the view of the government that the poor were inhuman and hence undeserving of their assistance. Despite the beliefs that government officials may have had, they would have nevertheless been shocked to read the manner in which Swift described the children of the poor, shock that would have made them realize that they needed to take action to rescue the poor whom they were wrongfully neglecting. Swift’s use of dehumanizing diction, numerical values, and infliction of guilt upon his audience assisted in persuading his audience, the English-led Irish government, to take action to relieve the poor of their poverty-induced troubles. In a time that the poor were oppressed by their government, “A Modest Proposal,” written by a concerned Swift, helped show leading officials that they needed to take action to help their poverty-stricken
It is in those first few paragraphs that Swift begins talking of children as if they are a good and far from human, referring to them as a “commodity.” Furthermore, Swift refers to the mothers of these “commodities” as “professed beggars” who rely solely on the monetary support of strangers on the street to provide food for their starving children. Swift’s dehumanization of poor children is intended to, in part, mimic the view of the government that the poor were inhuman and hence undeserving of their assistance. Despite the beliefs that government officials may have had, they would have nevertheless been shocked to read the manner in which Swift described the children of the poor, shock that would have made them realize that they needed to take action to rescue the poor whom they were wrongfully neglecting. Swift’s use of dehumanizing diction, numerical values, and infliction of guilt upon his audience assisted in persuading his audience, the English-led Irish government, to take action to relieve the poor of their poverty-induced troubles. In a time that the poor were oppressed by their government, “A Modest Proposal,” written by a concerned Swift, helped show leading officials that they needed to take action to help their poverty-stricken