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Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift. Enlightenment Satirist. Enlightenment Concepts. Many of these concepts show up in Swift’s AMP… Reason (“Age of Reason)*** Natural Rights Right to Revolt Freedoms / Liberties Progress Curing society’s “ills” ****concept of “reason” is mocked in AMP.

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Jonathan Swift

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  1. Jonathan Swift Enlightenment Satirist

  2. Enlightenment Concepts Many of these concepts show up in Swift’s AMP… Reason (“Age of Reason)*** Natural Rights Right to Revolt Freedoms / Liberties Progress Curing society’s “ills” ****concept of “reason” is mocked in AMP

  3. Swift….in a nutshell Born 1667 in Ireland to English parents, died 1745 in Ireland Greatest wit of the 18th century Wanted to cure society’s ills with humor Spent most of his life in Ireland, devoted to Irish affairs, but always considered himself English—ironic and problematic…. Irish satirist best known for Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal—both satires.

  4. Jonathan Swift's Religious Beliefs(2) Underlying all of Swift's religious concerns, which was really a form of radicalism, was his belief that in Man God had created an animal which was not inherently rational but only capable, on occasion, of behaving reasonably: only, as he put it, rationis capax. Locke or Hobbes?

  5. Swift's Political Beliefs The political pamphlets which he would ultimately produce in his native Ireland—the satires like "A Modest Proposal" in which he defended the interests of his church and his class (and, his country) against what he recognized as English colonialism--made him enormously popular, late in his life, in a country which he despised.

  6. “Swift” Summary… • Conservative (radical) • Driven by emotion=betrayal, anger nationalism driven by bitterness • Prolific—wrote over 200 political pamphlets • Man of religion—but saw worst in mankind • Protestant • Mankind = “yahoos”

  7. A Modest Proposal—a satire A serious, rational, political essay that addresses the social problems in Ireland (poverty, shame, unemployment, overpopulation) and what caused them and what solutions there are. The narrator proposes cannibalism, among other grotesque solutions.

  8. Title and subtitle--summary The complete title is, “A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of poor People in Ireland, from being a Burden to their Parents or Country; and for making them beneficial to the Publick.”

  9. What to do with AMP? Define and recognize satire in literature and political cartoons Interpret Swift’s AMP Recognize Swift’s use of rhetoric Discuss Swift’s purpose in writing AMP Discuss how satire functions in society today

  10. Satire: Definition A document in which society’s or individuals’ shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is constructive social criticism, using wit and exaggeration as weapons. Exaggeration = Wit = understanding, perception, intelligence

  11. Satire and Irony Satire is based upon Irony!

  12. Irony: A Definition 13

  13. VISUAL IRONY 13

  14. Types of Irony • Verbal Irony —saying the opposite of what is meant! • For example— “So glad you could make it to class yesterday, Mr. Youmans!” (when he was absent) • For example— • as soft as concrete • as clear as mud • as pleasant as a root canal • Verbal irony is often termed: SARCASM

  15. Situational Irony • When the result of an action is contrary to the desired or expected effect. • In layman’s terms: when the unexpected happens. • Being "shot with one's own gun" • When John Hinckley attempted to assassinateRonald Reagan, all of his shots initially missed the President; however, a bullet ricocheted off the bullet-proof Presidential limousine and struck Reagan in the chest. Thus, a vehicle made to protect the President from gunfire was partially responsible for his being shot.[13]

  16. Dramatic Irony Defined as the difference between what a character knows and what the reader / audience knows. The reader, in this situation, is one step ahead of the characters in the story.

  17. Satire vs. Gallows Humor Satirists may use their humor to inspire reform and change, or they may use it to promote the status quo. If the creators of satire don’t have a reform or a solution in mind but are simply holding up an aspect of the world as ridiculous, then they are creating irony or gallows humor rather than satire. 20

  18. GH: Example Sir Guy fills a large tank full of excrement and then throws $100 bills into the excrement to see if men in suits will dive in after the money. They do.

  19. Art Spiegelman’s Gallows Humor“In the Shadow of No Towers” 38

  20. Paragraphs 1-10 • Set the Scene • The “trap” • The Turn • Persona deux • Diction • The Stats / Economics • Language of Livestock • “You’re a cold-hearted snake…”

  21. Paragraphs 9-10 The “turn” or “switch” The shock value The satire begins The proposer becomes well-defined and much less-liked than previously thought…

  22. Paragraphs 11-12 One of most famous lines from AMP: “I grant this food…as they have already devoured most of the parents,” ***Who is “they”? ***What is the verbal irony? ***What is the personification? ***Two-way street….

  23. Paragraphico 13 • And the stabbing begins…. • Credibility “grave” author--diction • Catholic families start having many children 9 months after Lent….why? • Collateral advantage • Remember….Swift’s religious affiliation is?

  24. Fourteen (14) Carcass—enough said… What does this choice of diction do / continue? What are the cold, economics of the equation? (10-2 = 8)

  25. Fif—teen / Six—teen • Diction • “Thrifty…(as I must confess the times require)” • Syntax • Admirable gloves and fine summer boots • Flay / carcass • Shambles • “as we do roasting pigs”

  26. Heavy Seventeen • Rhetoric: Appeal to Authority (logos) • The problem of the teens… • The Verbal Irony of the Year Award: • “…and besides, it is not improbable that some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice (although indeed very unjustly), as a little bordering upon cruelty; which, I confess, hath always been with me the strongest objection…” • But, why?

  27. Ate-teen (pun intended) • Appeal to Authority—sorta • Anecdotal Evidence—sorta • Mocking: “people are the riches of a nation…” cont’d • What does that mean in Ireland? • The wealth of a country is based on the poverty of the majority of its citizens

  28. Advantages… Where does he start talking about advantages? Why here? What are these multitudinous positive aspects? How Logical are they?

  29. Real Solutions! Where does he hide the real solutions? What are the real solutions?

  30. What does Swift Reeeeeaaaaaly Want? • “Other expedients” • Can you sum them up? • Moral • Practical • Home and Away Is he being unrealistic? Is he being wholly artistic?

  31. Rhetoric in A Modest Proposal Tone—narrator vs. author Irony (verbal)—basis of his satire Mockery…obviously Logos?? In what way? Pathos?? In what way? Ethos?? In what way? What type of reader of AMP are you? Are you interested? Are you appalled? Are you complimentary? Are you_________?

  32. Structure--credibility • Essay • Opening AGD • The problem as author sees it--thesis • The Solution laid out in great detail--support • Satiric and real • The selfless closing—why it’s good! • Transitions, first, secondly, thirdly…. • Appeals to ethos, logos and pathos

  33. Schizophrenia in AMP!!! • Author of the Satire, AMP, is Swift • Author of the essay, AMP, is a well-educated Irishman; a wealthy man; an Anglican; one with morals, but not about cannibalism; a cold-hearted statistician; a Catholic “hater” • Where do they collide? • Opening Trap • Real solutions • Listed advantages

  34. Reaction to A Modest Proposal Mixed…

  35. Swift’s Legacy (??) He was idolized by people the vast majority of whom, since they were Roman Catholics, he would have denied religious and political freedom. After his death he became a national hero and, more importantly, was perceived as having been an English and Irish nationalist!

  36. Legacy There was immediate reaction to AMP among citizens and lawmakers alike! A push to eliminate or limit parliamentary positions for English in Irish government A push for Irish industry… A push for birth control…

  37. Swift’s Legacy Few people who read Swift’s “Modest Proposal” ever forget it because it touches such deep psychic nerves, it illustrates the satirist’s major tool, which is playing with the emotions of readers or listeners. Taboo subject

  38. Swift’s Legacy AMP remembered as the BEST example of sustained irony in English prose!

  39. Swift’s Legacy Misunderstood!

  40. Swift’s Legacy Patronage lost?

  41. Swift’s Legacy Misanthrope??? GT AMP

  42. A “Swift” Revolutionary • Why was Swift and specifically AMP considered Revolutionary? • Taboo Topic—treated rationally • Scathing commentary • Condemns his own country (and England—where he hoped to thrive) • Mocked the prevailing “wisdom” of the day… • All this from a Man of God…

  43. Artistic Satire (and gallows humor) • Political Cartoons / Social Cartoons • Humor Wit • Irony Signs of the times • Symbolism Exaggeration • Stereotypes Pop culture • Caricature Play on words ***Some just Mock ***Some are satiric ***Some are gallows humor: “the dark side”

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