Question

Read the excerpt from "A Modest Proposal." I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavouring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the publick good of my country, by advancing our trade, providing for infants, relieving the poor, and giving some pleasure to the rich. I have no children, by which I can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past child-bearing. Which statement best describes how irony is used in this excerpt? Swift states that he is speaking from “the sincerity in [his] heart.” Swift states that he has an interest in “the publick good of [his] country.” Swift states that the youngest of his children is “nine years old.” Swift states that his “wife is past child-bearing” age.

Answer 1

In this excerpt from Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal", the statement that best describes how irony is used in the excerpt is "Swift states that he is speaking from "the sincerity in (his) heart."

Swift is going to state his "modest proposal". He writes about how Ireland is suffering for being under British rule. How impoverished couples have trouble feeding their children. Mothers and children beg on the streets. To avoid this, Swift suggests in a satirical way that women should sell their children to rich English landowners, so they will serve them as meals.  He could not seriously write this from the sincerity of his heart, this is ironical.

Answer 2

Swift states that he is speaking from “the sincerity in [his] heart.” is the answer