A Modest Proposal

Reading this work was an experience. Because I'm gullible and dippy I didn't realize that it was satire until I read the questions in the book. In my defense, though it sounds too disturbing to be true, would eating babies be a big surprise considering how much mankind really just sucks? I've seen some weird stuff, but I think this has to take the cake. I felt really creeped out until I realized it was satire, but to be honest, I still think it's a weird way to talk about social problems. But hey, that's not my business so away we go.
So, why is this creepy article in the same textbook with works like the Declaration of Independence? I would say because it deeply affected the readers, just like any other famous work. Swift uses ethos, logos, and pathos to make sure his audience really understands what the heck he's actually saying. Now, just a quick reminder of what the heck those words actually mean:

Swift uses ethos to make people trust him and his viewpoint. There are tons of people and tons of writers in the world, so why should they have listened to him? He's trying to look as educated and wealthy as possible, because when a person has those two things going for them, it's easy for them to get their way. (Helllo SCWAMP) He mentions his gentlemen friends, ("I have been informed by a principal gentleman in the county of Cavan" pg. 405), his weird American friend, "I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a healthy young child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food..." (pg. 406), and all the places he has friends in, America, London, Cavan, etc. By name dropping such exotic places (they would have been considered exotic to the impoverished Dublin citizens) and such polite men, he is essentially trying to hide the disturbing suggestion of cannibalism between wealth and power.

Swift tries to use statistics and facts to prove that his point, while beastly, is really quite reasonable considering how many poor, hungry children exist. When people have logic on their side, it is more likely they will be able to convince someone to see their point of view-facts are facts. Swift writes that "The maintenance of 100,000 children from two years old and upward, cannot be computed at less than 10s. a piece per annum..." (pg. 408) He then writes that if people started eating children, this would mean that instead of paying for the impoverished, the country's "...Stock will be thereby increased 50,000 per annum..." (pg. 408) Clearly eating children will help the country as a whole, but what about the mothers who get rid of their children and turn them into lunch meat? Rest assured, cannibalism will help them too. If the cost of raising her child would be two shillings and it would sell for ten, then "The mother will have 8 shillings net profit." (pg. 406)

Emotion is key in winning people over, and Swift knew this, so he used clear examples of pathos in his piece. Though cannibalism seems extreme and horrible (which it is), Swift's goal is to influence the audience to believe that it's better than leaving these children to suffer. He describes abortion and the murder of children to pull on heartstrings, and uses emotional words in his writing, like melancholy, horrid, and deplorable. He claims that to leave these poor kids in the cold with no future is worse than eating them, because at least then they will serve a purpose. (pg. 407)