Question

Read the excerpt from "A Modest Proposal."As to our City of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpose, in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will not be wanting; although I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs.Which statement best describes Swift’s use of understatement in this excerpt?a. He states that "roasting pigs" is more difficult than roasting children.b. He states that butchers would have a problem roasting a child "as we do roasting pigs."c. He states that butchers are always "wanting" for "roasting pigs."d. He states that sending children to the butcher would be as simple as "roasting pigs."

Answer 1

Answer:

d. He states that sending children to the butcher would be as simple as "roasting pigs."

Explanation:

Jonathan Swift was an English writer, critic and poet who had also greatly written about the political issues of his society and time. The essay "A Modest Proposal" was anonymously published by him as a form of critiquing the impoverished nature of the Irish people and their economic troubles.

The excerpt from the essay shows Swift suggesting sarcastically that poor families should produce children and then sell them as meat for the rich. He implies that this will not only give an endless supply of food (meat) for the rich to entertain their guests but also provide a steady source of income for the poor people too. This will enable the balance in the economic situation of the Irish people.

An understatement is the presentation of something that is serious in a far less serious manner. This makes the issue seem less serious or less important. Swift uses an understatement when he stated that sending children to the butcher would be as simple as "roasting pigs". Sending children to be killed and eaten as meat is a serious and horrifying thing to do, but he compares it to a simple act of "roasting pigs", thus making it an understatement.