Hello, I'm supposed to do an essay with the following instructions:
1. An introduction of the issue and its impact on society
2. An outlandish proposal
3. An enumerated list of at least four reasons your proposal will work.
4. A list of practical solutions that "no man should talk of."
5. A conclusion that highlights the speaker's sincerity.
I just read Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" and I know I'm supposed to create my own essay with similar qualities (satire) based upon a social conflict.
I'm just confused with 4. I don't understand what that's asking me to do. I don't get how 4. differs from 3. Can someone please clarify this for me? Thanks
Have you decided on an issue?
You might think about
sports
politics
rich vs. poor
war (I remember an old joke -- What if they gave a war and nobody came?)
I was thinking of discussing the #MeToo movement with the satirical solution that we should kill off all men, but then I realized I would write myself into a corner because women are abusers too, etc. (I don't know, do you think this is an ok idea, Ms. Sue?)
Sports is a good idea. I was also thinking about bullying or the toxicity of social media platforms. The only reason why I don't want to do rich vs. poor is because a lot of my classmates are doing that, and I'm afraid to even touch politics lol
But to answer your question, I was thinking of writing a proposal to solve the issue of sexual abuse and harassment that the #MeToo movement brought awareness to.
Actually, I think I could bring in the whole gender equality aspect. I will originally propose that we should just eliminate all men in an attempt to prevent harassment and then slowly descend into the fact that if this condition (gender equality) is not met, then the whole human race should just die off (because women are abusers too, and no one knows who is going to be harassed/who is the abuser at first- so, in an attempt to solve people from getting hurt this way, we might as well kill everyone off to ensure that it never even happens).
Bullying and social media also are good ideas.
I agree that the Me Too movement wouldn't be very easy to include both men and women -- as well as same sex abuse.
I'm starting to write out the MeToo movement and your right, way too challenging and convoluted!
I'll do the social media.
So, in regards to this, what would .4 mean? 3. would be about me saying why my (satirical) solution would be correct, but I still don't know what 4. means:/ (To me, it sounds like the exact same as 3.)
I'm not sure, either. It's been eons since I've read this story. Check and see if you can find that phrase in the story. If not, ask your teacher for clarification.
Okay, I apologize in advance for the ridiculously long text, but here's the only two places where "let no man" is found:
I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom. This I freely own, and 'twas indeed one principal design in offering it to the world. I desire the reader will observe, that I calculate my remedy for this one individual Kingdom of Ireland, and for no other that ever was, is, or, I think, ever can be upon Earth. Therefore "LET NO MAN" talk to me of other expedients: Of taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound: Of using neither cloaths, nor houshold furniture, except what is of our own growth and manufacture: Of utterly rejecting the materials and instruments that promote foreign luxury: Of curing the expensiveness of pride, vanity, idleness, and gaming in our women: Of introducing a vein of parsimony, prudence and temperance: Of learning to love our country, wherein we differ even from Laplanders, and the inhabitants of Topinamboo: Of quitting our animosities and factions, nor acting any longer like the Jews, who were murdering one another at the very moment their city was taken: Of being a little cautious not to sell our country and consciences for nothing: Of teaching landlords to have at least one degree of mercy towards their tenants. Lastly, of putting a spirit of honesty, industry, and skill into our shop-keepers, who, if a resolution could now be taken to buy only our native goods, would immediately unite to cheat and exact upon us in the price, the measure, and the goodness, nor could ever yet be brought to make one fair proposal of just dealing, though often and earnestly invited to it.
Therefore I repeat, "LET NO MAN" talk to me of these and the like expedients, 'till he hath at least some glympse of hope, that there will ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them into practice.
--- I'm still rather confused what Swift is precisely trying to suggest here.