 “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift corresponds with the conventions of a satire. A satire corresponds with incorporating irony or exaggeration into a text.  Authors often use satire in the form of a joke or to incorporate humor into a piece of writing.  As Jonathan Swift makes wonderful points referencing the American society system’s flaws, he also demonstrates elements of irony or mockery while referring to eating children as pieces of meat due to societies increased poverty levels, and overpopulation in present day society. Another element of satire that is present is the authors title for the story. The title “A modest proposal” is merely a use of irony as the author is demonstrating the act of using children as food as “modest” and accepted by others, when it clearly is a preposterous proposition.   While reading the story, it is less obvious that the story is a satire until you reach the section of the suggestion as children being eaten as food to solve the problem.  I think that Swift’s approach to this was well planned and that the author decided to use this type of genre to appeal to the audience in a more carefree manner while discussing serious economic and social problems in the US.  Satires are often used for this reason to appeal to a certain audience without offending anyone because it is all simply to be viewed and seen as humor in the writing. Overall, I think that Swift’s use of irony and mockery of human overreaction to social and economic situations in society was successful through the satire of his writing “A Modest Proposal”.

The target text of “There was once” by Margaret Atwood is referring to the gender stereotypes of men and women in our present day society. Ironically, in this piece of writing Atwood is referring to things as a man would in current gender stereotypes.  This is a much more modern piece of literature, making the satire familiar from current language and more familiar social cues throughout the piece of writing from the author. Gender stereotypes are a very important issue in our present day society, it also a very controversial and sensitive topic for many people to identify and be comfortable discussing. I think that Atwood chose the genre of Satire for her piece of writing to introduce a more comedic tone to the piece of writing.  Also I think that she chose the genre of satire for her piece of writing because it can help people to see the underlying issues in our society through the authors use of irony and mockery of the current gender stereotypes.  I think that this was a very clever way to perhaps gain perspective from a new audience or to help gain awareness on this worldwide issue during this present time in society. Overall, I think that the authors use of irony and mockery from the role play of giving women the voice helped to give a modern spin on the piece of writing and also was a great way to attract the readers attention.