An Obscene Proposal

    The issues of hunger and poverty have disturbed civilization since the beginning of time. Could there finally be a panacea to end the misfortune? Jonathan Swift, author of A Modest Proposal present a feasible solution.
   The author begins by setting the scene. He describes his homeland, full of starving women and infants; mothers of three, four, five, or even six children. Women are unable to work because they are too busy caring for their young. It is states that these children should be made useful to the commonwealth. But how? Swift proposes that the best way to tackle this issue is by eating the children. Somehow, this heinous idea of cannibalism is muted by prose. His subtle proposal seems qualified; reasonable. The author's use of ethos, logos, and pathos makes this argument so convincing.
     Jonathan Swift establishes credibility by using personal pronouns. He not only describes the issues  around him, but also offers his own confessions as well. Swift writes, "As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of our projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in their computation" (paragraph 4). In addition his use of personal pronouns, ("I" and "my"), the author also establishes himself as a credible source by informing the audience of his devotion to the matter. He inserts the time and effort that has been put into carefully computing possible solutions. These examples support ethos.
     Secondly, the author uses demographics to persuade readers. Swift writes, "... a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, will increase to 28 pounds" (paragraph 11). By using statistics, Swift appeals to logic. Mathematical figures make his argument stronger by providing more background information and fortifying his knowledge on the subject.
    Lastly, Swift appeals to emotion with his use of vivid language. Scrumptious vocabulary such as "wholesome" and "nourishing" make the idea of eating infants more appetizing. In a nation stricken by poverty, words such as "roasted", "baked", and "stewed" entice readers and evoke an emotional response inflicted by hunger. Swift uses pathos in this way.
    Jonathan Swift presents a outrageously obscene proposal in a manner so eloquent and composed, it appears to be realistic. Perhaps the purpose of this piece was not at all in fact a solution to world hunger, but rather a mockery of unrealistic political aspirations. No matter the intent, Swift's pamphlet is proof that any good writer can construct a well written argument using ethos, logos, and pathos.