Voltaires Candide and Swifts A Modest Proposal Sattire

This text will concern itself with the use of satire in Voltaire’s ‘Candide’ and Swift’s ‘A Modest Proposal.’ Writers have in the past employed satire in an attempt to not only criticize, but also expose the wrongs in society. In essence, the utilization of satire has been mostly with reference to the political class in an attempt to criticize the political leadership’s follies. In this endeavor, writers routinely make use of ridicule, exaggeration, irony, as well as humor.
Voltaire makes significant use of satire in ‘Candide.’ Essentially, the satirical novel follows a young man by the name Candide as he explores the world gaining a great deal of knowledge about the various hardships and suffering people go through (Cronk, 2009). It is important to note that in addition to sarcasm, Voltaire has also extensively used other literary devices in the satirical novel. Some of the subjects Voltaire has variously satirized include the human nature and formal social systems. For instance, with regard to formal social systems, Candide satirizes class hierarchies by way of, amongst other things, mocking aristocracy with references to physical descriptions as well as titles. For example, in reference to the Baron of Westphalia, there is clear understatement in the following sentence: “the Baron was one of the most powerful lords in Westphalia, for his castle had not only a gate, but windows” (Voltaire, 2017, p. 117). The fact that windows, in addition to a gate, can qualify an individual to be very “powerful” amongst peers is clearly satirical.
It is also important to note that ruler ineptitude and hypocrisy, as well as political hypocrisy is well satirized in the satirical novel. For instance, in seeking to refer to the pride and vanity of the governor, many names are used in the reference to the said governor. These include, but they are not limited to, y Souza, y Lampourdos, y Figuerora, and Don Fernando d’lbaraa (Voltaire, 2017). In a satirical sense, the satirical novel also makes references to organized religion in its various formats. Towards this end, it should be noted that one of the common threads in most religions is that there is a benevolent God and that all things happen for a specific purpose. It is, however, important to note that as Candide explores the world, he encounters some really bad scenarios which, as per his disposition, indicate that the belief in a benevolent being is largely foolish. It should also be noted that references to the purchase of a sex slave by a Jew, engagement of a prostitute by a monk, as well as an act of theft by a friar are good examples of religious satire as used in the satirical novel. In this case, satire has been utilized in an attempt to indicate not only the foolish nature of religious officials, but also the extent of their hypocrisy.
One of the philosophies that have been satirized in this case in an attempt to indicate how absurd it indeed is includes that of “since everything was made for a purpose, everything is necessarily for the best purpose” (Voltaire, 2017, 134). In this case, Voltaire makes use of a hyperbole. In one specific scenario, for instance, where we have a drowning James the Anabaptist, Candide is stopped from saving the drowning man by Pangloss because in his opinion, the unfolding event occurs by design – that is, it was meant to happen.
Ireland’s rich landlords and their cruel ways are exposed in ‘A Modest Proposal’ by Swift. The said landlords are largely blind to the plight of those in dire need of help (Rosner and Theibault, 2015). The author thus presents a solution of sorts to the prevailing circumstances. Towards this end, Swift’s ‘A Modest Proposal’ is rich in satire – from the title to the very last page. For instance, while Swift makes violent and proposal proposals, the title of his work reads, ‘A Modest Proposal.’ There is nothing models about Swift’s proposals. It is also ironical that Swift would refer to the individual with whom he examined or conversed with about his scheme as the country’s true lover. This is in reference to the statement: “a very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I highly esteem, was lately pleased, in discoursing on this matter, to offer a refinement upon my scheme” (Swift, 2012). An individual who is even modestly patriotic or virtuous is not likely to be in agreement with any suggestion as macabre as the one made. In that regard, therefore, one would safely assume that the terms that Swift makes use of in this case are constructed to be in contrast with his actual meaning.
Like Voltaire, Swift also makes use of understatements to advance certain agendas in this satirical essay. A good example would suffice in this statement: “I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked…” (Swift, 2012, p. 53). This is clearly an attempt by Swift to focus the attention of the reader to various cruel, thoughtless, and brutal acts via the utilization of an understatement.
There is clear irrationality in the solution proposed in an attempt to ensure that children do not burden their parents. The solution, being the sale of children from poor families to the rich is absurd and an exaggeration. It reeks of ridicule and scorn in an attempt to criticize not only the vices, but also the stupidity of people. This is satire at its best. This is more so the case given that the children sold would serve as delicious food to the rich, while at the same time serving as a source of funds for the poor. This is in reference to this particular statement: “instead of being a charge upon their parents, or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding and partly to the clothing of many thousands…” (Swift, 2012, p. 53).
In my opinion, both authors share a common goal. This is more so the case with regard to highlighting the ills in society and questioning the assertions as well as practices held as norms in a societal setting. Towards this end, both make use of satire via their active utilization of not only exaggeration, but also humor and irony to advance their agenda for a better society even as they criticize those they are convinced are responsible for various societal ills. In my opinion, Swift’s ‘A Modest Proposal.’ would be most effective in initiating social reform. This is more so the case with regard to its skillful utilization of an outrageous concept to package and present a message. In all sincerity, Swift does not intend that children be sold to the rich as food. Instead, he intends to register his aggravation with the state of affairs (in reference to the hypocrisy of the rich and incompetency of the political leadership) – perhaps in the hope that this will inspire revolutionary changes.
References
Cronk, N. (Ed.). (2009). The Cambridge Companion to Voltaire. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Rosner, L. & Theibault, J. (2015). A Short History of Europe, 1600-1815: Search for a Reasonable World. New York, NY: Routledge.
Swift, J. (2012). A Modest Proposal and Other Satirical Works. New York, NY: Dover Publications.
Voltaire (2017). VOLTAIRE: 60+ Works in One Volume. Mason, OH: Musaicum Books.