Compare and Contrast on Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift and Sexism in Language by by Alleen Nilsen - Essay Example

 Arguments are considered a writer’s most cherished themes. Through arguments, writers can achieve one of the two important objectives. They can either raise awareness or they can forward their own stand on an issue. In some cases, a writer may be able to achieve both and that is no mean achievement by any standard. However when arguments for the sake of argument, it can become highly biased as we shall see in the case of A modest proposal by Jonathan Swift. But when arguments are meant to create awareness, they can be truly enlightening, as Alleen Pace Nilsen’s essay “sexism in English” denote. But in some rare cases, arguments are presented to raise awareness about a trivial matter in a light-hearted manner and this is where the piece becomes important for its humorous worth. Such arguments do not lack force but refuse to impose views on others and this is what Suzanne Britt’s essay is all about. In a Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift highlights the subject of poverty in Ireland in very harsh and satirical manner. It is important to understand that there is a very clear line dividing humor and satire and Swift’s work is not humorous in any way. His language is abrasive and there is little use of compassion. Even if logic is applied, it is twisted around which makes it appear like reversed logic. There is nothing mild about his essay and while his main purpose was to draw attention to the extremes of poverty in Ireland and the growing population problem, his solution might appear to be an attack against the government instead of a concern for societal good. Such themes were usually Swift’s favorites as Fox (2003) tells us, “Recurrent famine, widespread poverty and misery amongst the native peasantry, the failure to create a more self-reliant economy, and the landlords' moral complacency are the principal targets of Swift's anger.” (p. 27) There is too much politics in the essay, which is one reason the essay cannot be truly enjoyed. No serious facts or statistics have been used and thus the essay lacks objectivity. With the kind of harshness he employed, statistics were definitely needed to support his case. In the contrast, we can use the example of Suzzanne Britt’s essay, Neat people vs. Sloppy people. This essay has made good refreshing use of humor. The author has tried to attract attention to the differences between the attitude of neat and sloppy people and has employed humor with such ease and precision that every person would love this piece, regardless of the category he falls into. “Sexism in Language” by Alleen Nilsen is an enlightening piece on an important subject. The author explores the use of sex-oriented terms in English language that depreciate a woman’s worth while it raises a man’s value. In other words, these words reinforce the century-old gender specific roles. A woman is considered an object of desire while a man is her protector and thus carries more weight. On the other hand Swift’s remarks may leave readers with nothing but spite towards author’s rather indecorous proposal. However there are occasions when Swift has made some intelligent comments in the essay, which must also be studied if only to be fair in our assessment. At one point in the essay, he proposes that, “I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.” Swift’s voice is not one of restraint on all occasions. At many instances, he is even more acidic than the Proposer who talks with considerable “judicious restraint”. Swift on the other hand revels in excess where his ironic persona exercises restraint. For example on one occasion when the Proposer informs his readers that babies can serve as "wholesome Food,", Swift quickly takes over to further extend the boundaries of irony when he explains just how these babies could be served: "whether Stewed, Roasted, Baked, or Boiled". Since Ireland was almost ruined by landowners, this comment makes more sense than other propositions in the essay. Swift, despite his claim, that he writes to vex certain people appears to care deeply about the issues of poverty and plundering than he would have us believe. This can be best explained in terms of ironic distance that Richardson talks about in his article. Richardson maintains that in Swift’s work we can detect a consistent variation in the distance established between the author’s own voice and his ironic persona. What it means is that while Swift himself may not have such radical and distasteful views, his ironic persona did. Therefore he tried to maintain a distance between the two in order not to expose his true feelings that come through in some lines. In the Modest Proposal, which is definitely not the most objective piece ever written, there are some sincere feelings such as the comment made about landlords. Since the primary purpose of his essay was to annoy others, it was not suitable for Swift to come very close to his own voice and thus maintaining a proper distance helped him in furthering his cause. Britt has no personal scores to settle. Her main aim to draw attention to the worlds of neat and sloppy people and decide for us which category is better. Ordinarily, we would blame sloppy people for being…well sloppy. We would attack their hoarding habit, their inability to be more neat, their complete failure at clearing and boxing their stuff and then we find them surrounded by piles and piles of stuff they think is important but cannot actually file or box. The author feels that these people are more sentimental and thus more moral than neat people. In her argument, which is rather witty, and definitely worth reading more than once, she claims that neat people are heartless. They don’t save letters, notes, postcards or anything of value because they are of no immediate use and must thus be thrown away. Britt argues in favor of sloppy people saying that these people have sentiments and respect the feelings of others. They consider everything important and thus never throw away anything. But their only flaw is that they live in a “never never” land where nothing gets done. Though they mean to be organized and sincerely expect themselves to be neater, they never find the time or energy or even the right reason to be more like their neat counterparts. While Britt’s purpose is add a refreshingly original dimension to the debate of neat vs. sloppy, Swift’s primary purpose was to vex others and not to actually draw attention to social problems. Wyrick (1988) asserts, “…in A Modest Proposal, the body is stripped of its protective or curative coverings and exhibited as consumable commodity, to be "dressed" for the table…” (p. 144) At another point, Swift launches a delirious attack against the aged or diseased people- making it clear that he wasn’t much concerned with their well-being. “Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed, and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken to ease the nation of so grievous an encumbrance. But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known that they are every day dying and rotting by cold and famine, and filth and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected.” (p. 373) Alleen Nilsen has done a thorough research on her subject. She understands what she is talking about. She is direct without being harsh. Her observations are quite on the mark since other writers have also recognized sexism in language. Nancy Henley argues, “Sexism in language takes many forms, though these may be reduced to three types: language ignores, it defines, and it deprecates women. As a result, women and girls are hurt both psychologically and materially by it. In addition, such usages as the "generic" masculine do not serve their intended linguistic function and are often ambiguous.” (cited in Penfield ed., 1987) Sexism is demeaning and hence has come under severe criticism. Nilsen correctly points out that when women are called birds and chicks, it diminishes their role in the society and reduces them to a spineless commodity that is good to play with. Women today are writers, pilots, judges, and politicians, CEOs and have adorned million other roles. But use of sexist language undermines their achievements. Britt appears to be truly interested in her subject. Her sympathy for the sloppy people and her argument against neat people originate from a sincere appreciation of sloppy people’s moral and views. She seems to have affection and respect for sloppy people though she is well aware of their flaws too. Britt is not interested in eulogizing any group but her admiration for sloppy people’s sentiments is genuine and at the same time utterly funny. Swift has no sincerity of purpose or compassion for anyone. His essay is full of acidic comments that a genuinely concerned person would never make. His satirical remarks stem from a desire to be popular and to be talked about instead of any real concern for the poor in Ireland. Nilsen like Britt has no scores to settle. She has no grudge and her only purpose is to enlighten the readers. Unlike Britt however, her issue is of serious concern. She doesn’t use humor or satire to advance her views but instead focuses on facts and presents her arguments in concise and straightforward manner. References Jonathan Swift: Selections. (1924) Hardin Craig edition; Charles Scribner's Sons: New York. Deborah Baker Wyrick, Jonathan Swift and the Vested Word (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1988) Christopher Fox, ed., The Cambridge Companion to Jonathan Swift (Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2003) Joyce Penfield, ed., Women and Language in Transition / (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1987) Read More