Guess Who is Coming to Dinner?

Swift identifies the problem in his society as being inhumane to the less fortunate. He begins by describing and agreeing with society on how beggars and their numerous children are a drain to society. He comes up with a proposal, a solution to societies problem. His solution is barbaric and purposely meant to shock his audience. Swift, hopes that by logically linking the common feelings towards the poor with his barbaric proposal, he will shock the audience into realizing that their feelings towards the poor are equally as barbaric as his proposal.

I think his suggestion is serious. He feels that the people of his country are treating the poor like they are less than humane. if they are less than human, then they are animals and he goes into detail describing the poor as animals being prepared as food. He has to treat the subject seriously in order to shock the audience into seen his point.

His solution is so illogical that it is absurd. First, he describes In good detail the situation of the less fortunate, obviously appealing to the sympathies of the audience. Finally, he then transitions into a sarcastic proposal in the attention to make people feel guilty for their lack of compassion.



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