Final answer:
In "A Modest Proposal," Jonathan Swift applies ethos by presenting himself as a trusted and knowledgeable figure, pathos by detailing the plights of impoverished families to evoke an emotional response, and logos by providing statistics and economic arguments to support his satirical proposal.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" is a satirical piece that employs ethos, pathos, and logos to make its point. Ethos, being the ethical appeal, is established when Swift, as the narrator, suggests that he has no other motive in offering his proposal than the public good. He presents himself as a credible individual with a well-thought-out plan. For pathos, Swift appeals to the audience's emotions by vividly describing the deplorable conditions of the impoverished Irish and the suffering of their children.
This use of emotionally charged language is designed to provoke a strong reaction from the reader. As for logos, Swift employs logical arguments by providing a variety of statistics and calculations, such as the number of children born to poor families and the economic benefits of his proposal, to back his claims and support the validity of his outrageous suggestion.
In the text, Swift uses ethos to establish trust and credibility with his readers. He references his careful analysis and prior examinations of this matter, which positions him as a knowledgeable and reasonable person. Concerning pathos, Swift's vivid imagery of the struggles of poor families and children elicits a strong emotional response. He details the dire situation, drawing the reader into the emotional landscape of his satire.
Lastly, logos makes an appearance in the structured rationality of his proposal, along with disturbingly methodical calculations suggesting the economic benefits of breeding children for consumption, providing a twisted logical reasoning to the argument. These rhetorical strategies are interwoven to both advance Swift's satirical narrative and critique the indifference of the ruling class towards the plight of the poor.