A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift demonstrates how the genre of satire came to its fruition that it possesses today. Satire is an unorthodox genre of literature that allows for authors to poke fun at a topic with the elements of sarcasm, ridicule, irony and more. It is a genre that is meant to be lighthearted in order to ease an author’s way into what can be a controversial topic for some. 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. Swift in particular uses a passive-aggressive tone to ridicule his topic of poverty in Ireland. Swift’s usage of caricature makes his opposition look unreasonable. For example, Swift’s passive-aggressive tone when explaining that eating babies is necessary for his community is repulsive and it is made obvious in big thanks to his usage of caricature and litotes. In A Modest Proposal, Swift is not quick to prove that his passage is indeed satire. It is not until the topic is manifested thoroughly though that the elements of satire are put on display.

 Swift does not 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 does not appreciate the Irish government during the time he wrote the text. Swift plays the role of Swift versus 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 is not too pushy on his viewpoint. Swift, like most satirical authors, writes to comically prove a point that is not 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 is not too forward with his argument like some satirical authors. Swift uses litotes when he states, “Infant’s flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March, and a little before and after” (Swift 516). 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. He flows through the absurdity of his proposal so smoothly, it makes you step back and ask yourself, “Is this guy serious?”. Swift’s form of satire is dry and cutthroat. Swift uses ridicule to poke fun at the Irish government’s decision making. Swift’s possible solution of eating infants makes readers comically 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 passage, which is a key reason why there is a significant difference between the two satire passages. Molyneux has more of an unorthodox way of writing satirically. If reading Swift before Molyneux, you will come to the quick realization that Molyneux disrupts Swift’s generic way of writing satirically. Unlike Swift, Molyneux writes with a lot of life and emotion. Moreover, Molyneux wears her heart on her sleeve in her argument; she’ll stop at no boundaries to prove her point with a bang. Swift’s usage of litotes made his opposition look redundant, whereas Molyneux uses hyperboles to create the same effect. She goes as far with hyperboles as to say, “Christopher Hitchens is a huge douche who runs a successful child pornography business and has an inability to get an erection unless he’s reading Nazi literature” (Molyneux 522-523). Also, Molyneux has to write with this persona if she wants to make her argument come together. She is trying to prove that women can be funny so she is aware that she has to be over the top to prove that. 

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 when firing shots at society for believing in ridiculous stereotypes. Swift’s lax style of writing is enjoyable because he’s in no hurry to get to his point and he makes the reader make his or her own judgment call on his argument. For this reason, Swift’s writing is horation satire. Horation satire is mild mannered and makes the reader laugh on their own at the absurdity of the satire. On the contrary, Molyneux’s writing is a bit on the juvenalian side of satire. Juvenalian satire is harsher and attacks at the opposition of the argument. Like mentioned earlier, Molyneux goes after Christopher Hitchens and shows no remorse about it. Juvenalian satirists will leave you at shock and awe at some points, just like how Molyneux does when she calls out Hitchens. 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. She hits all the stereotypes of women in this piece, she gives the reader a sarcastic joke when she exclaims, “My fondest hope is that the wafting smells of a home-cooked meal will lure men who are passing by to come inside and eat dinner.” Does she actually do this? No, her usage of wit gives her the upper hand on her opposition since the opposing view thinks women don’t have wit at all. 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. On the contrary, the similarities between the two pieces are there despite the plethora of differences. Firstly, they are both poking fun at a social issue that bothers them greatly. Both authors use caricature mightily to get the opposing view at a lost for words. Molyneux uses stereotypes and Swift uses dumbfounded logic to further their reader’s knowledge of the social issue they are presenting. 

Although Molyneux’s style disrupts Swift’s, I believe the genre of satire is shifting toward 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. Swift’s elements he uses to further his point has much grey area whereas Molyneux’s usage of satirical elements are straight to the point. 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. I Am Sorry That I Didn’t Write a Comedy Piece is lighthearted and makes the reader feel comfortable about the argument. There’s always going to be a thin line of controversy in the literature of satire, but both of these authors do a fantastic job of using caricature, ridicule, and sarcasm to make their arguments enjoyable to read. Molyneux’s exaggerated usage of satirical elements will propel future satirical authors to write with a similar in-your-face style. Times have changed since Swift laid down great groundwork for the genre of satire. We live in a modern day society where satirical acts and writings allow us to discuss contestable subjects such as politics, human rights, and more. In big part to late night television and Saturday Night Live, Molyneux’s over the top style of writing is much more accessible than Swift’s generic style.
