While Wendy Molyneux and Jonathan Swift write about two very contrasting topics, they both use an efficient tactic to get their point across. In Molyneux’s “I Am Sorry that I Didn’t Write a Comedy Piece” the writer uses stereotypes often associated with women to prove that females can, in fact, be funny. Swift, however, writes on quite a more serious issue in “A Modest Proposal” which is children being a burden or their poor parents, using the same strategy to bring this important issue to the surface. Although these two texts differ so greatly from each other, both authors use the same approach to support their opinion on a topic that is important to them. Even though Molyneux may make many laugh while Swift’s piece probably sparks some different reactions, the two writers use the emotional response of the readers to convince them why their views are important and correct.

The strategy used by the author of “I Am Sorry that I Didn’t Write a Comedy Piece” is that of very strong sarcasm. Wendy Molyneux claims “I saw this article asking for women to submit more comedy pieces. So I put down my giant chocolate bar, stopped crying, and thought, yes, that is what I will do.” (521). She explains a story of everything she gets distracted by instead of attempting to write this so called comedy piece. The writer uses stereotypes that some typically connect to women to prove that she can write a comedy piece while also mocking anyone who doubts that these emotionally unstable, male obsessed, Grey’s Anatomy viewing individuals can also write witty texts. She teases anybody who believes that a female’s only aspiration is to have a willing husband come knocking on her door. It is comical that Molyneux actually uses these stereotypes to write a hilarious piece on what some men think women truly do and think about every day. While the writer claims she is doing all of these things instead of writing a comedy piece, she uses the disbelief of some to write about all the actions and thoughts that are so typically associated with women to actually write her story. After some research of who this woman was it came to discovery that she is actually a writer, producer, and actress for the TV comedy “Bob’s Burgers.” So clearly seeing that Molyneux has quite a comedy that airs on Sundays at 7pm, on a channel as important at FOX, I would assume that she knows she could come to the challenge presented by “a Web site called The Rumpus.” (521)

Jonathan Swift takes a comparably different approach on his writing “A Modest Proposal.” Swift uses real facts to not only demean the Irish government, but also shame the landlords for making it incredibly hard to support a family and also pay the ridiculous rent costs they charge. The writer tears into the emotional side of readers by introducing the first proposal, “I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefor very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.” (516), which essentially should be confusing for quite a disturbing solution. He then turns this around to take another shot at the government and their attempts, claiming “After all, I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion, as to reject any offer, proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally as innocent, cheap, easy, and effective.” (520) Although the initial resolution is rather concerning, any reader should understand that Jonathan Swift is far from delusional, nonetheless begging for any rational answer to the problem that rises in Ireland. Obviously Swift does not think that the government should take the unfortunate children away from their parents to spare for mating or to cook up and sell for delicious food. Instead of introducing a realistic resolution to this issue, Swift uses sarcasm to plead for an explanation to this rising problem they were experiencing in Ireland at the time. Swift was originally a satirist but when in Ireland focused many of his pieces on the government and the arising problems making his way into political journalism. Both of Swift’s best known writings, “Drapier’s Letters” and “A Modest Proposal” were published anonymously at the time of writing.

While both authors composed on extremely different matters, they each use emotional response to force their readers to truly think, whether that be about some accusations made toward a certain group of individuals or poor families who are unable to support their kids because of unfair treatment by landlords. Both Swift and Molyneux are attempting to convince their readers that what they believe in is right. In Swift’s case, his belief is that someone needs to come forth with a helpful solution to the rising problem in their country. Whereas Wendy Molyneux is attempting to prove to her readers that women, like herself, can write comedy, contrary to some opinions. Being that Swift was a satirist and political journalist back in the 1700’s while Wendy Molyneux is a modern day comedian, it’s interesting that their pieces have so much in common. It is obvious that the apparent plot of each story have nothing to do with each other, however when read closely it is quite obvious that the true meaning and connecting source of the writings are found in the subtext. This forces readers to have to read between the lines to find the real significance of what the writers are trying to get across.

Although the writers and the texts differ from each other in just about any way one can think of, each of them have the urge to convince their readers to take a stand. Swift and Molyneux both have extremely thought provoking standpoints on what they each think is right. Each piece of writing uses the readers’ emotions to get their point across to them. Whether that be sadness or humorous they both put forward valid arguments through sarcasm that attempts to encourage their readers to listen to them. While the obvious meanings in the texts are hidden and only found with close attention, the way that these two authors, living in times hundreds of years apart, use the same strategy to get across to their readers is amazing.
