A Modest Proposal and Other Satires
The Modest Proposal
How does Swift bait readers, encouraging them to read on?
Asked by
sarah b #501154
Last updated by
judy t #197809
How does Swift bait readers, encouraging them to read on?
The easiest way to bait any reader is to make that reader think that the proposal is clearly logical. The writer sounds as if he is simply trying to solve and problem which in some people's minds truly exists. What he is really doing is drawing the reader in and then "hitting" him/her right across the forehead with the idea that children would be delicious to eat. He then lists several uses for these children which would improve the economy. He is simply being "logical" and it works beautifully.