a modest proposal essay

            Although Satire is offensive and can be a huge put down, it is effective to expose the ills of society. This is proven many times through many satirists including Jonathan Swift, the first satirist in history, and those existing today.  Satire’s use of irony, sarcasm, scandalizing and targeting are offensive but make satire what it is and can shine light on societal ills.

            The extreme feeling of discomfort and dismay of the readers will gain their attention and bring light upon the ills the satirist is trying to expose. In the modest proposal a literal meaning of eating baby’s catches the readers attention due to the appall of the idea. He brings to light just how horrifying the society is by saying that eating and selling children would over all help society. He uses discomfort and symbolism to show the ignorance the rich are of where their stuff comes from and how horrifying the work place is where they get their stuff from really is. “Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flay the carcass: the skin of which artificially dressed will make admirable gloves for ladies and summer boots for fine gentlemen.” (Swift 4). Though it is horrifying to be horrified, it will bring the attention of readers to the subject needing addressing.

            By shining a spot light on the ills society can change simply because the readers will then become aware of the change that they should be making. In the modest proposal light is put on the rich peoples ignorance to where their stuff comes from by saying they will be the ones eating the children. “…Besides the profit of a new dish introduced to the tables of all gentlemen of fortune in the kingdom who have any refinement in taste.” (Swift 6). Using verbal irony as a spotlight, Swift can point out just how badly the poor are being treated and looked down upon. “It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for an alms.” (Swift 1). By shining a light on a subject many will become aware and change their behavior for the better of society.

            The use of satire is so effective it is still being used today in many social media sources. People like John Oliver and John Stewart shine light on things in our current political problems in the modern day. This is shown in videos such as frisky business where it uses irony to show just how outrageous it is to stop and frisk someone simply on their dress, targeting the rules of the paranoid government fixating on stereotypes to go about the business of public safety. It is also shown in the adorable care act how politics need to change and see the needs of the people. This targets the politicians and their need to look for the needs of the people and not the “need” of a political debate. In inner beauty makeup tutorial it targets girls and their need of being perfect and beautiful and covering up their natural beauty that society refuses to see. It targets the media and our society expecting unnatural things from our population.  There are many satirists today using irony, sarcasm, scandalizing, and others to bring light on ills and fix them for a better future.

            Ever since Swift published the modest proposal, the first satirical piece, satirists have used satire to effectively inform the public of the ills of society and give them the awareness as though to fix it. Wherever there are ills, a satirist can shine light on the things hidden in the dark and allow people to do what they need to do to bring society to a better future.