Comparison (J. Swift & A. Pope) Essay -- essays research papers

The attitudes portrayed in Alexander Popes An Essay on Man and Jonathan swifts A Modest Proposal towards mankind is strikingly similar. Both acknowledge the view that man has dominion over the earth, as created and instituted by God. However, the difference is seen in their approaches to this subject. Pope primarily focuses on mans pride and place in society, whereas Swift discusses how man deals with certain situations reasonably or unreasonably. Pope and Swift present situations that man has to face in conjunction with illogical conclusions. Besides exhibiting illogical conclusions, they also show the selfish, prideful, rebellious, jealous, and the ungrateful characteristics of man. The narrator in Swifts, A Modest Proposal appears to be a logical, educated person who has been studying the subject of impoverished citizens, primarily women and children, for years. He does this by informing the reader of his functional relationship with scholars, as well as thought out and gathere d calculations, followed by examples of children having no hope for the future. He transitions into illustrating his proposal from giving his findings by stating, I have too long digressed, and therefore shall I return to my subject (Swift 457). The narrator indicates his proposal, which appears to be illogical to the reader. He does this so that the reader will non agree with the solution to overpopulation by eating babies, but fo...