First Paragraph and Thesis

 Swift the Grotesque Idea

In Dr. Jonathan Swift’s writing of A Modest Proposal, he proposes that the women of poverty sell their children to the rich people to plump them up, so the rich can then make the children into food, also they can  ” make gloves for the ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen” (Swift par. 15). The less fortunate tenants would then have another way to pay for what they need as well. Swift writes this proposal because he feels that there are too many children being born to poverty stricken women. While Swift’s proposal is grotesque in nature, he makes quite an argument with his ideas of what to make out the children and how eating the children will help the economy.

Irish stew, by Charles Haynes

Works Cited

Swift, Jonathan. A Modest Proposal. eBook. <http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1080/1080-

       h/1080-h.htm>. Feb 22,2013 

Link I am going to do is definition and examples of satires.

Response to Swift

A Modest Proposal

1. What is the problem that Swift identifies in his society? What does he want to do about it? 

The problem that Swift identifies in his society is that there are many having babies that cannot afford to be having them and they are starving to death or begging and stealing to survive. Swift is trying to find a solution for so many children being born to poverty and so many poor people continuing to give birth when they cannot afford to feed themselves let alone more children.

 2. Is his suggestion serious? If not, what is the purpose? What is he making fun of? 

I don’t think Swift is making a serious suggestion. He is making an attempt at being funny. He seems to be making fun of how the people of poverty survive when they can’t seem to stop having children.

 3. Is his solution logical? What kind of evidence does he give to support his position? 

I do not think this is a logical solution because who in their right mind wants to have children so they can sell them like they would if they were raising cattle or chickens. In Swift’s proposal he has evidence to support his position, however, it is not logical to believe in his proposal. 

Picture of the cover for A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

The link I chose will take you to the story of A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift. I linked it any time you see the name Swift.

Advertisement

The reason I chose this as a uniquely effective advertisement is because so many times I could relate to how these guys feel. Also because I find it to be a funny advertisement. I think the advertisement has pathos in it because I had an emotional connection to the character that was being sluggish from hunger. The logos being used was the young lady telling the tackled Betty White she needed to eat the Snicker bar to take away the hunger pain to stop being so sluggish.

What I am working on

What I am working on

I chose the thesis: Bartleby is the hero of Melville's story in his refusal to participate in a workplace that represents the sad, dreary atmosphere of a bureaucratic, industrialized society. He is the only one standing up to society that is increasingly oppressive to workers.

While this was a hard choice for me because I wasn't quite grasping the whole idea of this essay to begin with, I just chose this thesis and kind of ran with it. I am use to choosing my own thesis or idea from reading a story, so to have it there for me and not necessarily agreeing with any of the choices was probably what made it so hard. 

 I didn't really feel Bartleby would be considered a hero in today's world by refusing to do work that he was being paid to do, however back in the 1800's things were much different than in today's world.

Bartleby is stuck in an area close to the employer with a window that has no view at all but did give some light. Within a few feet was a wall and the light came in from far above between two haughty structures. The employer put up a green folding screen to further isolate Bartleby from sight but not from being heard or hearing when his employer needed something. Bartleby has been put in a dreary location to do his work and unable to continue to do the work in the environment he refuses to endure. (Melville)

Melville, Herman. “Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-street.” (1853) 

Jan 28, 2013 <http://www.bartleby.com/129/>