Final answer:
Jonathan Swift's 'A Modest Proposal' is a satirical essay that uses hyperbole, irony, and sarcasm to critique the treatment of the poor in Ireland. Swift's true opinion is revealed through the detailed yet outrageous proposal of eating poor children to solve poverty, which serves to highlight the absurdity of the government's neglect. The essay's serious tone and realistic portrayal of economic details further emphasize its satirical nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal is a prime example of satire which is revealed through clues within the essay that show Swift's true opinion on the matter. The text takes a rational tone to propose an irrational and grotesque solution to the poverty and overpopulation in Ireland: eating the children of the poor. This outrageous suggestion is meant to shock the reader and reveal the absurdities of how the Irish poor are treated.
The satirical nature of Swift's work can be identified by its extreme hyperbole, irony, and sarcasm. The continuous serious tone, while narrating something so morally appalling, is a key signal that this work is not a genuine proposal but a satirical critique of how the British are neglecting the plight of the Irish. Swift uses the proposal to ridicule the heartless attitudes towards the poor and the failed policies of the government.
The clues to Swift's true opinion in the essay are found in the level of detail in describing the supposed benefits of his proposal and the sophisticated calculations that pretend to back the economic advantages, making the satire more biting. The realistic portrayal of various economic and social practices, contrasted with the absurd proposal, helps to underscore the satire. Swift also uses allusions to contemporary practices of oppressive landowners and politicians, making his criticism more pointed.