An Analysis of Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” Essay

Satire as a form of dianoetic practice may be properly understood if it is contextualized within a particular culture, institution, attitude, or belief. It is lone(prenominal) by placing the badinage within a particular setting as presented by the elements mentioned above that a satire bequeath garner the non-linguistic components covering the preparatory preconditions necessary for the construction of satirical discourse (Simpson 70). An example of the satire as a form of discursive practice is seeming(a), for example, in Jonathan alerts A Modest scheme.In the aforementioned work, Swift presents a situation wherein the persona of his text urges the population on acts of cannibalism in order to lessen the problems ca theatrical roled by Irish overpopulation. The persona starts his proposal with an initial description of his surroundings. He notes, It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great townwhen they see the streetscrowded with beggers of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning every passenger for alms (Swift 52).It is important to note that such a description is characterized by the personas detachment towards his surroundings. Note for example, the manner in which a both senses of the concept object is used. The aforementioned passage thereby portrays not only the personas documental appraisal of his surroundings but also the personas objectification of the individuals encompassed within that area.Such an objectification is further evident in the following passage Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great solicitude about the vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimedBut I am not in the least pained about that matter, because it is very well known that they are insouciant dying, rotting, by cold, and famine, and filth, and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. (Swift 56)The personas use of the two senses of object, in this sense, may be understo od as a manner in which Swift portrays the irony evident in the context of the text. The irony is evident if one conceives of A Modest marriage proposal as a text which presents a delimited view of the world. As contrary to a satires ironic presentation of a particular situation in fact an ironic portrayal of a particular mindset, humor, on the other hand, portrays the manner in which worldly interests are given more belief as opposed to lofty ideals.An example of this is evident in Samuel Becketts writings wherein Beckett focuses the text to the wideness of existence as well as the importance of the meaning of existence in relation to the ordinary objects. As opposed to a satire which might present a bland ethnocentric perspective regarding racial discrimination, the ferocity on modern humor would be on the problematic construction of such concepts that enable racial discrimination to exist e. g. opposition of black and white.In line with this, Colebrook notes, both irony and humor persist off the gap between concepts and world (241). The difference, however, lies in the difference of presentation noted above.Works CitedColebrook, Claire. raillery in the Works of Philosophy. Nebraska U of Nebraska P, 2003. Simpson, Paul. On the Discourse of Satire Towards a stylistic Model of Satirical Humor. Philadelphia John Benjamins, 2003. Swift, Jonathan. A Modest Proposal. A Modest Proposal and other Satirical Works. New York Dover, 1996.