I find the classification of literary works according to their intensities highly captivating– especially when they are soaked with double-edged irony. While the IRONOMETER measures the strength of different types of ironies, my INTENSOMETER measures the intensity by which an ironic work conveys its message.
INTENSOMETER ranking for this week's works:
- Jourdan Anderson's letter
- "A Modest Proposal"
- "Marrying Absurd"
WHAT? Who in their right mind would rank "A Modest Proposal", the sardonic essay about cannibalizing children, under Jourdan Anderson's letter in terms of intensity? The answer lies in Jourdan's effective use of subtle irony to create a stronger, long-lasting effect.
Everyone knows, after reading "A Modest Proposal", that the absurd proposal described is a mere exaggeration. Swift was an established and sane writer of the 16 - 1700s; he definitely did not actually want boiled children "seasoned with a little pepper or salt." While the grotesque hyperbole does deliver Swift's point about the poverty policies of the time, it appears as a fantasy to the reader, lessening its impact.
On the other hand, Jourdan's use of subtle blame and passive-aggressive tone keeps the real consequences of slave abuse while also attacking Col Patrick Anderson. Almost every sentence has a deeper meaning. Jourdan states that he has "often felt uneasy about" Col Patrick Anderson. This understatement is extremely effective, as Jourdan does not simply feel uneasy about his former slave owner – he despises him.
Lastly, I placed "Marrying Absurd" at the bottom because of its slightly lighthearted tone. The essay is simply mocking the fast-paced wedding; it is in no way sardonic or extremely sarcastic.
Of course, there are many ways to organize this INTENSOMETER. Let me know if you agree or disagree with my view in the comments section!
I enjoyed reading your blog Sameep! I find it interesting that you ranked the satirical pieces we read in class in terms of intensity, in which you bring up a very good point. Although at first glance it may seem like A modest proposal may seem to be more intense, Jourdan's letter was more filled with underlying tones of anger and passion due to the struggles he had been through.
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