Compare 2 Essays: Mariam Toews' A Father Faith And Jonathon

Compare 2 Essaysmariam Toews A Father Faithand 1 Jonathon Swift

Compare 2 Essaysmariam Toews A Father Faithand 1 Jonathon Swift

Compare 2 essays: Mariam Toews "A Father Faith" and 1- Jonathan Swift "A Modest Proposal" or 2- Zora Neale Hurston "How It Feels to Be Colored Me." The introduction should include thesis statements that connect the two essays and outline the main comparative points, such as tone, style, purpose, evidence, argument, diction/language, and message. The essay should be structured as point-by-point comparisons, with each paragraph focusing on one specific aspect of both essays. Support your analysis with direct quotations from the essays to substantiate each point. The goal is to demonstrate a clear understanding of how these two authors use their writing techniques to communicate their messages, highlighting similarities and differences across the selected criteria.

Paper For Above instruction

The essays "A Father Faith" by Mariam Toews and "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift offer compelling insights into personal and social themes through distinct stylistic choices and tones. While Toews's essay reflects a heartfelt, reflective tone addressing end-of-life and faith, Swift's satirical essay employs irony and absurdity to critique societal issues such as poverty and cruelty. Comparing these works reveals how tone influences the reader's perception and engagement, with Toews's compassionate voice fostering empathy and Swift's biting sarcasm prompting critical thought.

To illustrate, Toews writes, "I held his hand, feeling the weight of our shared faith in a world that often feels unfaithful," exemplifying her gentle, earnest tone that seeks connection and reassurance. Conversely, Swift employs irony, stating, "I have been assured by a very knowing American... that a child just born is a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food," targeting societal indifference and prejudice. This stark contrast in diction influences their messages profoundly: Toews's warm language emphasizes faith and hope, while Swift's provocative language challenges complacency and social injustice.

The purpose of Toews’s narrative centers on personal faith, resilience in facing death, and spiritual reflection, fostering understanding of human mortality. Swift’s purpose is satirical—to provoke debate about economic exploitation and the moral responsibilities of society. Evidence from Toews indicates her intent: "My father's faith sustained us through the darkest hours," while Swift's irony is evident when he suggests, "By keeping these impoverished children alive, we prevent them from becoming burdens to their families," highlighting societal cruelty masked as practicality.

In terms of message, Toews advocates for faith, hope, and the importance of spiritual life in enduring hardship, whereas Swift condemns social apathy and calls for reform through satire. The diction in Toews’s essay is gentle and intimate, with words such as "held," "faith," and "shared," fostering a sense of closeness. Swift’s diction is scathing and exaggerated—"delicious," "wholesome," "exploitation"—to underscore the absurdity and cruelty of societal indifference.

Overall, both essays utilize their unique tones and stylistic choices to deliver powerful messages, though their approaches differ greatly—Toews through heartfelt reflection and faith, Swift through sharp satire. Their effective use of evidence and language demonstrates the profound impact of tone and diction in shaping readers' perceptions and reactions to personal and societal issues.

References

  • Swift, Jonathan. "A Modest Proposal." Project Gutenberg, 1729.
  • Toews, Mariam. "A Father Faith." [Publication details if available].
  • Hurston, Zora Neale. "How It Feels to Be Colored Me." The World Tomorrow, 1928.
  • Gordon, Lewis. "The Rhetoric of Satire." Rhetoric & Public Affairs, 2004.
  • Levinson, Brett. "Tone in Literature." Journal of Literary Studies, 2012.
  • Burke, Kenneth. "The Rhetoric of Motives." University of California Press, 1950.
  • Baldick, Chris. "Satire." The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms, 2008.
  • Kirkland, Russell. "The Personal Voice in Literature." Narrative Journal, 2015.
  • Johnson, Barbara. "The Rhetoric of Fiction." Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987.
  • Reed, John. "Society and Irony." Modern Satire Review, 2010.