Irony In The Eighteenth Century Essay - 786 words

Irony in the Eighteenth Century It is common knowledge, that a lot of methods of expressiveness are common used in literature. Among them, undoubtedly, we may outline an irony. In general, the word irony goes from the greek mockery, so is a latent mockery, delicate ridiculing which makes a story originally expressive and bright. In this essay Id like to analyse some representative works, where the irony is being used. For the beginning, let us remember A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift. It was one of his most outstanding works with its sharp irony.


Here the author is thinking on the problem of a prodigious number of poor children, who has no any respectable future. Swift says, that he has a modest proposal on account of this problem: there could be prepared delicious dishes of one-year fat children, as it is a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food! He also humbly proposes some of his economic calculations on this matter. Moreover, he says, such actions would be useful in all fields: constant breeders wouldnt be burdened by the children more than one year, such food would give some pleasure to the rich, admirable gloves for ladies and summer boots for fine gentlemen would be produced, men wouldnt beat or kick their wives during the gestation etc. In some word combinations like leave their dear native country talking about the children who feels nothing to their country or her lawful occupation of begging, talking about the mothers of such children or even calling a stealing an art the irony is quiet notable. Swift is openly ironical here but his irony is humane. In such way he condemns an oppression of the Irish people. Another work Id like to touch upon is Top of the Food Chain by T. Coraghessan Boyle.


His novels in general represent a caustic satire on the American lifestyle. Reading Top of the Food Chain appears a feeling like the story is swarming with insects. It is very impressive and bright. It is written with humour and seriously at the same time and with some portion of the irony. He spoke we might as well have been spraying Chanel No. 5 for all the good it did talking about the pest eradication and killing t ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Essay Tags: food chain, eighteenth century, modest proposal, irony, candide

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