Jonathan Swift’s Essay A Modest Proposal, and Voltaire’s...

There are two vastly differing works of literature that employ similar elements of satire, whether the story is long or short, essay or novella. In these two works, the authors bring light to ongoing social, political, and philosophical issues of their time and age. The two works I am referring to are Jonathan Swift’s satirical essay, A Modest Proposal, and Voltaire’s novella, Candide, or Optimism. In both A Modest Proposal and Candide, there is a portrayal of irony, cold logic and reasoning rather than emotion, and misguided philosophy. Exploring the issues within these texts can implement a better understanding of not only the literature itself, but also the historical context and the issues of the time. By delving even deeper into†¦show more content†¦This can also be seen when Pangloss churns out philosophical discourse rather than obtaining the oil and wine Candide was begging for after the shipwreck and the earthquake. ’Alas!’ said he to Pan gloss, ‘get me a little wine and oil; I am dying.’ ‘This concussion of the earth is no new thing,’ answered Pangloss. ‘The city of Lima, in America, experienced the same convulsions last year; the same cause, the same effects; there is certainly a train of sulphur under ground from Lima to Lisbon.’ ’Nothing more probable,’ said Candide; ‘but for the love of God a little oil and wine.’ ’How, probable?’ replied the philosopher. ‘I maintain that the point is capable of being demonstrated.’ Candide fainted away, and Pangloss fetched him some water from a neighbouring fountain.† On the other hand, the speaker in A Modest Proposal has immaculate knowledge of his country’s financial situation, overpopulation, and famine. He demonstrates this knowledge through careful calculations of how to handle the proposal that he is making. However, there is no use of emotion or empathy in making t hese calculations â€Å"computations;† there is no thought of the moral implications of this proposal and the fact that this can be considered mass genocide based on social class. Rather, the speaker uses objectivity and cold calculations to demonstrate his principle. Both texts demonstrate, as well, a misguided philosophy of sorts as seen through the