Here's how Swift uses language to achieve this effect:
1. Deceptive Simplicity:
* Adjectives like "modest," "plain," "frugal," and "cheap" are used to describe his proposal, creating an illusion of reasonableness and practicality. This deceptive simplicity makes the reader initially accept the idea, only to be shocked by the horrifying reality.
* Descriptive phrases like "a very worthy project" and "a most excellent scheme" further reinforce this façade of reason and practicality.
2. Appeal to Logic and Reason:
* Swift uses precise and detailed calculations to justify his proposal. He even employs statistical data about the number of children born in poverty and the potential economic benefits of eating them. This seemingly logical approach masks the absurdity of the proposal.
* Descriptive phrases like "a fair calculation" and "a just computation" contribute to this deceptive sense of reason and rationality.
3. Cold and Detached Tone:
* Swift adopts a detached and objective tone, devoid of any emotional appeal or empathy. This creates a sense of distance between the reader and the horrific subject matter, allowing the absurdity to sink in gradually.
* Adjectives like "useful," "beneficial," and "profitable" are used to describe the effects of cannibalism, highlighting the callous disregard for human life.
* Descriptive phrases like "a very nourishing and wholesome food" further underscore the chilling indifference of the proposal.
4. Irony and Sarcasm:
* Swift employs irony and sarcasm to expose the hypocrisy and inhumanity of the ruling class.
* Adjectives like "tender," "delicious," and "savory" are used to describe the flesh of children, highlighting the grotesque nature of the proposal.
* Descriptive phrases like "a most delicate and agreeable food" and "a very nourishing and wholesome food" further drive home the irony of the situation.
By skillfully combining these linguistic tools, Swift compels his readers to confront the absurdity of his proposal, exposing the hypocrisy and indifference of those in power. While the text initially appears to be a serious economic solution, the relentless use of adjectives and descriptive phrases ultimately reveals it as a scathing satire of the social injustices plaguing Ireland at the time.