Final answer:
Jonathan Swift's satire in 'Gulliver's Travels' criticizes trivial political conflicts, while 'A Modest Proposal' uses shock to critique British apathy towards the Irish. Both works employ humor to provoke thought and critique social absurdities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jonathan Swift was proficient in the use of satire to expose folly and vice. Two powerful examples of his satire are found in Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal.
In Gulliver's Travels, Swift satirizes the petty squabbles of European politics through the conflict between Lilliput and Blefuscu, which is all over the correct way to crack an egg. This ludicrous dispute mocks the often arbitrary and trivial causes of real-world wars, exposing the folly of such conflicts. In A Modest Proposal, Swift uses the shocking suggestion of the Irish selling their children as food to critique the brutal indifference of the British ruling class towards the plight of the Irish people. This is a masterclass in the use of shock to force readers to confront the inhumanity of existing social policies.
These examples of satire serve to not only entertain but also to provoke thought and encourage readers to engage with the serious issues masquerading behind such humorous depictions. Swift's use of satire is both a defense and a weapon against the absurdities of social, political, and economic conditions of his time.