Modest Purposal

An example of ethos in the modest proposal is when Swift talks about how there are too many children “ I think it is agreed by all parties that this prodigious number of children… is in the present deplorable state of the kingdom.” This is ethos because the author is trying to get an emotional reaction out of the audience by saying children are the reason for the problem. An example of logos is “ one million and a half of these I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand couples whose wives are breeders.” This is a mix of logos and ethos because the author is using numbers to express his proposition but it also looking for the reaction from the audience about having breeders. By using pathos the author gets an emotional response from his audience, for example saying “ I assured by our merchants that a boy or a girl before twelve years old is no stable commodity” By saying such outrageous proposals Swift peeks interest from his readers. I think the devise used most would be ethos.

Swift appeal is to bring everyone to the attention of the economy problem in Ireland, and how much this needs to be fixed. He wants people to be proud and patriotic about their country, but because of the economy it is a major problem in rural Ireland.

At paragraph 19, Swift acknowledges a general concern about the vast number of elderly, sick, and handicapped among the poor, who are no more able to find work than the children. Having been asked to consider how the country could be relieved of that burden, Swift declares himself unworried--these people are dying off fast enough anyway, which is anticipating a possible counterargument used.

One example of irony in the Modest Proposal is the title itself, It is anything but modest. It is frightening, scary, some might say even insane. In the opening statement when the author talks about his concern for the poor, where in reality he doesn't care at all. He doesn't see the poor as humans, and if he did he wouldn't have suggested to sell their children to be eaten by the rich. Another piece of irony is when Swift makes fun of America, England and Ireland all at once “ I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy Child well Nursed is at a year Old, a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome Food, whether Stewed, Roasted, Baked, or Boyled, and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a Fricassee, or Ragout.”

An example of understatement is “ I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection.” The point of this example is to show the satire and to come across as if he honestly believes his proposal should be considered. Again this quote was used for the same reason, "I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that 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