A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift demonstrates how the genre of satire came to its fruition that it possesses today. Satire guides readers to look at a topic from a humorous perspective to make people realize the real identity of the author’s viewpoint. Satire is beneficial to readers, in an external article, Peeling the Onion: Satire and the Complexity of Audience Response, Fife analyzes how, “These persuasive benefits of comedy and incongruity imply a positive role for satire in public argument” (Fife 323). For this very reason, authors like to use satire to benefit their argument on issues in their community. In A Modest Proposal, Swift isn’t quick to prove that his passage is indeed satire. It isn’t until the topic is manifested thoroughly though that the elements of satire are put on display. Swift doesn’t use all of the possible elements of satire in his piece, but certainly enough to prove that this passage is textbook satire. Swift proves that he doesn’t appreciate the Irish government during the time he wrote the text. Swift plays the role of Swift vs. the government of Ireland, Swift himself is the assumed protagonist. Swift’s style of writing in this text plays out as the optimistic type of satire, where he isn’t too pushy on his viewpoint. Swift, like most satirical authors, writes to comedically prove a point that isn’t easy to talk about otherwise. Litotes is Swift’s most significant element used to show that his text his satirical. He subtly pushes his point towards the readers with the element of litotes, but isn’t too forward with his argument like some satirical authors. The way he nonchalantly describes eating children to benefit the community is hilarious, this element he uses for his argument makes the ridicule in the text seem much worse. Swift uses ridicule to poke fun at the Irish government’s decision making. Swift’s possible solution of eating infants makes readers comedically ask themselves, “Is this really the best option for his community?” This is why ridicule is used so critically throughout this text because of the absurdity of his proposition. 

Unlike A Modest Proposal, I Am Sorry That I Didn’t Write a Comedy Piece is a much easier read due to how recent it was written and the easy connection readers can make to the issue presented in the text. Modest Proposal was written many years before Molyneux’s piece which is a key reason why there’s significant differences between the two satire passages. Molyneux has more of an unorthodox way of writing satirically. If you read Swift before Molyneux, you’ll come to the quick realization that Molyneux disrupts Swift’s generic way of writing satirically. Molyneux passive aggressively argues against the typical gender stereotypes of females. Unlike Swift, Molyneux is quick to get to her argument, she leaves everything out on the table for the reader to digest. Molyneux wants her readers to know right off the bat her intentions for writing. Like mentioned earlier, Swift is an optimistic satire author whereas Molyneux pushes more towards the pessimistic side. Molyneux is more over the top in her style of writing with much more wit and irony. Molyneux’s wit is a big component in proving her point of busting stereotypes of women, especially the stereotype of women not having a sense of humor. The wit factor shows nonbelievers that women can be funny. In Swift’s piece you have to laugh to yourself when reading because of his mild mannered style of writing whereas Molyneux can make you laugh out loud much easier. The time barrier is significant between the two pieces, Molyneux portrays a much more evolved genre of satire. On the other hand, Swift’s well-aged passage lays the groundwork for satirical authors. Molyneux’s element of irony is extremely crucial for her passage to be successful. The irony she uses makes the reader laugh because she mentions several times that she needs to write a comedy piece but she goes on hilarious tangents throughout the text only to mention in the last sentence, “Oh well, I probably would have been terrible at it anyway”. Molyneux’s style of writing is much more unique than Swift’s. Although Molyneux’s style disrupts Swift’s, I believe the genre of satire is shifting towards Molyneux’s style because of the over the top elements used in satire today. Swift’s work is a great base for satire, although his style is more difficult to comprehend, he gives modern day satirical writers a synopsis of how satire should be formulated. If you oppose Molyneux’s argument before reading her piece, she’ll make you feel like an idiot afterwards, much like Swift does. Moreover, Molyneux’s ridicule and wit is much more appealing to readers in today’s society. Molyneux’s exaggerated usage of satirical elements will propel future satirical authors to write with a similar in-your-face style.
