Eliminating Prejudice: Eula Biss & Jonathan Swift - Essay Sample

Introduction

Eula Biss and Jonathan Swift derived the inspiration for writing "Is This Kansa?" and "A Modest Proposal" respectively from what was happening in the society. Prejudice is among the ills that have been affecting the community for a long time. Individuals and organizations use various ways, including writing books to eliminate prejudice from the community. The two authors have used different strategies to address the issue of prejudice. The various setting that has been explained include the school, urban areas, or streets and even at different homes. Prejudices are rampant, and it is almost affecting every individual in society, and it especially targets the less privileged individuals. Some advantages and disadvantages have been associated with the author's strategies. Some of the advantages include the organization of the plot, the theme used, the type of language that was used and also literary style such as imagery that was used by the authors. The disadvantages are that Biss used a lot of stories to explain the prejudices, which might confuse the order and it lacks creativity in terms of coming up with things like audiovisual such the computers. Joining this university can make an individual focus and concentrate on how Biss portrays college students at the expense of racial prejudice. Today, prejudice is so rampant in society, and the two authors have used different strategies to explain this issue in-depth and different ways on how to solve it.

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Advantages of the Author's Strategies

One of the advantages concerning the two authors' strategies is that the plot of the stories has been done well and even in terms of organization of the stories or the content in it. A reader can read the whole story and at the end, be able to understand what is being discussed. The topic of prejudiced has been addressed so clearly, and they have also suggested the different ways of solving the issue. When the plot is well organized, then the readers can be able to read it without any challenge and understand because there are no complex ideas that have been used in this context. For instance, Jonathan in his Modesty Proposal discusses how and vulnerable and how they can be helped to get out of this situation and also Biss has shown different ways in which prejudice is portrayed in the society (Hovermann 415)

Another advantage of the authors' strategies is about the themes that are being addressed in these particular scenarios. The topic of prejudice has been discussed clearly without any confusion. Any reader can be able to read this and understand without any further clarification. The major themes that the two authors have identified in both stories are prejudices and ways of solving such biases when they arise in society. They are focusing on addressing those issues that are rampant in a society where people live today. The theme of prejudice has been discussed in great depth, and it enables a reader to understand more about it and the current situation in society (Benner et al. 184).

Another strategy that has been used by both authors is concerning the language that has been used in the whole context. The language is simple, clear, and precise, and there is no use of compound words that a reader cannot understand as he or she goes through it. This is a strength because it enhances the understanding of the main topic that is being discussed. The reader will get an easy time to go through the story and avoids wasting time while looking for definitions of those complicated words that have been used. Therefore it saves a lot of time. There is also an effective use of language, which aids a lot in making the topic simpler and easy to comprehend. Even if there might be one or two words that a person cannot understand its meaning, he or she can be able to relate to what is being discussed to get the real sense of that particular word (Benner et al. 183).

Another advantage in these two stories is concerning the imagery that has been brought up in their work. The stories that are have discussed in the two essays brings out a clear image of those people who are being discussed. Their characters are evident, and an individual can be able to see them. For instance, in Biss story, he explains those girls who were white towels and shoes, and they cross the street while chatting as they go down to the river. This brings a clear image of how the girls look alike but then there is a deeper meaning that is associated with it. There is other evidence of imagery that has been used in these two scenarios. This style helps the reader to think more about what is being discussed and be able to connect to the topics that are being addressed in this case (Hovermann 419).

Disadvantages of the Authors' Strategies

A disadvantage that has been noted in the story of Biss is that there a lot of stories that have been discussed in the story that is being narrated. A lot of stories in one subject may sometimes make the reader avoid some parts because he or she may feel there is a repetition of the same message. What I could have suggested is that he could have just chosen one story that is interesting that will capture the readers' attention. The reason for this is that what matters a lot is the content or rather the message. Having too many stories at once may not be necessary at some point. Even though the stories can be related to the topic that is being discussed but then it makes an individual read one story at a time then goes to the next and so on which is a little bit time consuming (Benner et al. 181).

Student culture, looting in the university and hyperbolic satire are not enough to discuss the prejudices that exist in the society. Bias is a broad topic that should be discussed extensively on how it occurs in various settings. This is an explicit limitation to the topic that is being discussed in this particular context. Therefore, what is being provided in these cases are just some of the few examples that have happened. One of the things that people should know is that it occurs at any place, and it can even occur unconsciously without an individual noticing it. This is another disadvantage that is evident from what has been shown in the two stories that are being narrated (Hovermann 420).

Another disadvantage concerning these two authors is that both of them were not creative enough in that producing video that people can watch. This is because some people will prefer watching than reading some things since they find it interesting. If they could have done this, perhaps they could have had more people contributing towards such stories by adding their comments and views about ways things should be done to avoid such mistakes in life over and over. This could be one of the means of improving on such issues. Videos make the topics that are being discussed so interesting, unlike a story that has been narrated, which a person is required to read through it (Benner et al. 179).

The way the work has been written by Biss is not so much attractive to the reader. The main reason for this is that usually the work should be written well so that people or readers can find it interesting to read. For instance, an individual can get this article, and when he or she gets to the second page, they become amused how to work has been showed. At this point, a person can decide to quit reading it because a person may even struggle reading it. However, when the content is displayed like 'The Modest Proposal' the readers find enthusiasm as they read it and provides attention to understand what is being addressed in that article (Benner et al. 177).

Racial Prejudice at the College

The fact that attending the University of Iowa forced an individual to focus more on Biss's portrayal of college students at the expense of racial prejudice. Racism is evident in this case because in courts when a claim is being decided, a black teenager will be jailed for possession of marijuana while the white teenage will only be sentenced with the community service for driving while intoxicated. The law should apply equally to everyone such that the black and white offenders accused of the same crime can be given the same sentence. Justice is only achieved when an offender is sentenced for the crime committed no matter the skin of their color, ethnicity, or background. Research has shown that many people are being jailed based on color, which is not the right thing to be done. That means that being black is an issue in this country, and it needs to be addressed and the early the better. Racism has been there since many ages ago, but then it has not been eradicated. Racism is real, and many youths at college or even at other institutions are being faced by it (Hovermann 408).

Another evidence from Biss's proposal shows that the white Americans feared that their property could be taken away from black Americans. The whites knew that black Americans are bad people in the society and take part in looting other people's property. The newspaper later confirmed that there was some small scale looting that had to take place. The people whom they think usually take part in the looting process are majorly the black. These are some of the things that the whites think about the black yet they can be the ones who are stealing from themselves and only later to come and realize that they have been stealing from each other (Hovermann 410).

Swift's Absurd Humor

Swift's absurd humor does trivialize the issue of Irish poverty because as he talks about how poverty mostly affects these people, he also gives some of the alternative ways of doing away with poverty. The society has a lot of problems and debt is one of them, and it needs to be addressed. The narrator wished if the children being discussed here to get some financial assistance so that they can get their basic needs like other children whose parents are well off. There is a gap that exists among the rich and the poor in the society, and it started since long time ago, and it cannot be completely eradicated in some way (Benner et al. 174).

Swift's absurd humor also does not trivialize the risk of offending readers. The main reason for this that he is discussing the truth about matters that are affecting society significantly. Addressing such issues do not change anything among the risk offending readers. The exceptional may exist in this, but they are very few because many people are supporting addressing such issues that affect society. Some of the things that these readers should know are that this is the whole truth concerning the matter. Therefore discussing both the positive and the negative sides of the issue does not change the readers' mind in any way (Benner et al. 175).

Swift has used humor with no intention of altering the contents in his article. What might change only is how the readers will interpret it. Some will interpret it in the right manner, while others will interpret it wrongly. This was one of the strategies that he would wish to use and address this particular issue that has been common in society. Therefore, this author had no intention of trivializing the issue of Irish poverty and risk of offending readers (Benner et al. 172).

Conclusion

Prejudice is inevitable in most societies today, even despite a lot of efforts that have been put in place to discourage it. Biss and Jonathan are the two authors who have been able to discuss prejudice in different ways, and they have even proceeded to suggest some of the ways that can help in reducing or minimizing it to certain levels. These prejudices take place mostly among the less privileged members of the society. Biss uses student culture and looting at the University of Iowa as an example of how prejudices take place among African Americans. On the other hand, Swift uses hyperbolic satire to m...