She looks as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth

She looks as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth

The phrase "she looks as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth" is often used to describe someone who appears innocent and sweet on the outside, but may actually be quite cunning or devious underneath. This expression perfectly encapsulates the satirical style of Jonathan Swift, a renowned Irish writer known for his sharp wit and biting social commentary.

Swift was a master of using irony and sarcasm to criticize the political and social issues of his time. In his most famous work, "Gulliver's Travels," Swift uses the character of Lemuel Gulliver to satirize the absurdity of human nature and society. Gulliver encounters various fantastical societies in his travels, each one serving as a mirror to the flaws and follies of the real world.

In the context of Swift's writing, the phrase "she looks as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth" could be applied to a character who presents themselves as virtuous and innocent, but is actually manipulative and self-serving. Swift often used this type of character to highlight the hypocrisy and moral corruption of those in power.

One example of this can be seen in Swift's "A Modest Proposal," where he suggests that the impoverished Irish should sell their children as food to the wealthy English landowners. This shocking proposal is a scathing critique of the callous indifference of the ruling class towards the suffering of the poor.