Two texts with the same genre, can produce an analysis of the similarities and differences. This analysis provides a revelatory point, if the two texts support each other, or not. “A Modest Proposal”, by Jonathan Swift, along with “I’m Sorry I Didn’t Write a Comedy Piece”, by Wendy Molyneux, both share the genre convention of satire. Using “The Modest Proposal” as a lens text, the target text (“I’m Sorry I Didn’t Write a Comedy Piece”) supports the expectations of satire, created by “The Modest Proposal”, by using similar methods and conventions, in attempt to replicate the amount of success caused by “A Modest Proposal” 

In “A Modest Proposal”, Jonathan Swift ridicules the government of his country with exaggeration, irony, and humor in order to inspire a change in power. “A Modest Proposal”, my lens text, uses different literary devices to cue the audience that it is a satire. One example that Swift uses a literary device to ridicule the government, is by proposing the idea of eating babies (Swift 514). Swift uses this exaggeration, and supports it with the benefits of eating babies, in order to improve the issues of his country. These benefits include; slowing down the rate of population, to decreases overpopulation, provide food for the poor and hungry, and improving the health of many sick citizens, from the rich nutrients found in babies (Swift 515).  As morbid as Swift sounds, he made logical reasons for consuming babies. Was Swift serious about eating newborns? Absolutely not. This idea is supported by an article written by Shane Herron, called “Dark Humor and Moral Sense Theory: Or, How Swift Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Evil.” In this article, the author argues that Swift’s satirical representations of evil, are really done in order to construct his views upon the government (Herron 438). This shows the reason behind his proposal, is towards the government. Not babies.

To continue, this information can also support the idea that Swift’s writing through satire, was to poke fun at the government’s rule. Jonathan can compare the governments decisions over the country, to the idea as silly as, eating babies. In the article, “Swift and Mimetic Sickness”, the author supports the thought that Swift criticizes modernity, which represents the style of government (Mackie 369). Adding on to this argument, Swift’s piece of satire is used to appeal to the citizens under the rule of the government at the time. Whenever the citizens see the exaggerations Swift is making of the government, it reveals the flaws in their law making. The lower class and poor, seem to be attacked in this story, because the government has forgotten about them. This point relates back to the bigger picture of Swift’s reasoning for writing through satire, tying back to his proposals intended for the forgotten citizens. By using satire, Swift is creating awareness for the forgotten lower class. This argument is supported through his criticism of government (Mackie 364) and satirical representations of evil (Herron 420). 

My second piece, which is the target text, is called, “I Am Sorry That I Didn’t Write a Comedy Piece” by Wendy Molyneux. This piece is an agreement and corresponds with the genre found in the lens text, “A Modest Proposal’. In “I Am Sorry…” the author uses the same elements of satire, found in “A Modest Proposal”, in order to critique gender stereotypes presented by a critic. In “A Modest Proposal”, the theme is political-economic crisis, compared to the theme of gender stereotypes in the target text. The similarity of themes is found by the importance of the topic. When “A Modest Proposal” was configured, politics and economics were a very important topic in society, proven by the article of “Standing Armies Revisited” (Kennedy 287). To continue, the theme in “I’m Sorry...” (gender roles), is shown in “Gender Stereotypes...” (Labyrinth 38) as a very important topic in society. Both themes of these text were controversial topics, that pertained to the modern time of the issue, which proves the similarity in framework.    

To add on, in this story by Molyneux, we see many examples of humor to ridicule the critic, just like Swift used to ridicule the government. Wendy uses these elements, which are presented by Jonathan Swift, to break the stereotype of women not being humorous. Although both authors use a different type of humor, they both use it as tool for their satire. For example, Wendy uses sarcasm, just as did Swift, but in different ways due to the change in time. One example of this we see, is in the line, “I mean, I probably shouldn’t even try to write a comedy piece since Christopher Hitchens wrote an article in Vanity Fair saying that women just aren’t funny. He’s probably right.” (Molyneux 522) This shows the same type of devices used by both authors to ridicule another element. Wendy uses similar forms of traditional satire, that is in the framework of “A Modest Proposal”, because of the success Swift had. Due to the success in restoring ethical principles that Jonathan Swift gained through his writing of satire (Herron 429), Wendy Molyneux was looking to do the same in regards to her theme of stereotypes. This is a possibility of why Molyneux accepted the traditional genre convention of satire that is displayed in “A Modest Proposal”. By recreating or accepting the same genre convention, which resulted in success, the author had hope of the same result, on her audience. 

In “A Modest Proposal”, Jonathan Swift creates a framework of his satirical writing. This could also be referred to as a genre convention. Swift addresses a major topic at the time, in order to ridicule and make fun of it, using literary devices. By doing so, Swift appeals to the lower class in order to promote a change in politics, along with his writing in satire. From his success, Wendy Molyneux writes in his tradition of satire, in order to see change. Wendy also addresses a major topic (gender roles), to ridicule. Compared to Swift, Wendy uses similar devices such as, humor and sarcasm to influence a change in respect to gender roles. The story, “I’m Sorry I Didn’t Write A Comedy”, accepts the framework of satire created in “A Modest Proposal”.  By accepting the framework of “A Modest Proposal”, Wendy hopes to have the same outcome for her audience through her writing in satire, as Swift did. 
