18C - Satirical Prose in the Eighteenth Century Lesson

Satirical Prose in the Eighteenth Century Elements of Satire -Verbal Irony -Situational Irony -Dramatic Irony -Satire -Underestimation -Exaggeration -Hyperbole -Sarcasm -Antithesis -Wit

Eighteenth Century Satire

During the 18th century, as reason became popular, people found various artistic mediums to voice concern over a corrupt society and government. Many writers used their wit in the form of satire to reach the masses and politic against corruption. Satire is a literary genre that expresses amusement or disgust at ridiculous, unseemly and/or immoral behavior or culture in order to bring about change in society. Out of a moral concern, the satirist attacks the vice and folly he or she sees around. Some of the most well-known satirists during the 18th century are Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, Joseph Addison, Sir Richard Steele, John Arbuthnot, Delarivier Manley, John Gay (playwright), Daniel Defoe, and Henry Fielding.

Modern Day Satire

Society enjoys satire because of the wit and humor created but remembers the situation satirized because satire forces people to think about issues they normally would not consider. Today, there are several satirical television shows, magazines, and newspapers. The ever popular Saturday Night Live is a series of satirical episodes that use various satirical elements to create the humor for the show. Similarly, The Colbert Report (which is no longer on television) and The Daily Show are two well-known "news" shows that present the news in a satirical and humorous, yet memorable manner. Finally, The Onion is both a print and online publication that contains satirical articles covering every topic imaginable from World News to Sports. There are multiple satirical publications and shows that use a satirical method, and there are even multiple types of satire used to reach individuals.
Read a modern example of satire from a publication called The Onion. Links to an external site.

Jonathan Swift

Born in Dublin, Ireland to English parents, Swift was a well-educated man who hoped for a career in politics. However, he decided on a career in the church but became increasingly active politically and wrote several satires that he published under pseudonyms. When he became known as the author of seemingly blasphemous texts, Swift lost favor in the eyes of church officials and Queen Anne.   Many of the institutional and societal faults that Swift attacked in his writings, such as political corruption, are still targets for satirical criticism today.

Swift, like all satirists, assumes he will make his readers recognize the gap between things as they are and things as they ought to be. Using satire, he disguises his true meanings by attacking vice and folly indirectly through irony. View the excerpt from Swift's poem "A Description of the Morning":

The slip-shod 'prentice from his master's door Had par'd the dirt, and sprinkled round the floor. Now Moll had whirl'd her mop with dext'rous airs, Prepar'd to scrub the entry and the stairs. from "A Description of the Morning' by Jonathan Swift

As seen here, Swift uses irony to illustrate the difference between the romantic notions about the beauty of dawn and the reality of dawn as he offers a depiction of daybreak in the bustle and chaos of London where people no longer enjoy the morning because they rush to work.

A Modest Proposal

Published as a pamphlet in 1729, "A Modest Proposal" uses satire to exploit the desperate conditions in Ireland and to protest the English treatment of the Irish. Swift uses wit and irony as he explains how to help the children of poor people in Ireland to become beneficial to the public instead of a burden on their parents or country.                

Acting as a "practical" economic planner, he proposes an outrageous solution to Ireland's problems of hunger, homelessness, unemployment, and poverty. However outrageous, some people actually believed this proposal was serious and thought of Swift as a monster. Obviously, he did not intend for his proposal to be followed.

An excerpt from A Modest Proposal and demonstration of use of satire:

Image shows an excerpt from "A Modest Proposal" and points out how: Swift uses situation irony to compare children to livestock. He uses hyperbole to show how many of them could be reserved to breed and eat instead of wasting money on raising children in the poverty-stricken land. Swift clearly mocks the financial situation of the county and uses wit and satire to show society the ridiculousness of not even having enough money to raise children.

It is now time to read "A Modest Proposal." Links to an external site. When reading, notice how Swift uses hyperbole to create his outrageous solution to the problems in Ireland.

Gulliver's Travels

Gulliver's Travels was Swift's greatest work, and he first published the text in 1726. However, the publisher was fearful of the text indicting him for treason, so he changed several aspects of the book to tone down the political satire. Swift was furious and sent the text to a new publisher who published the full text in 1735. Recall that satire attacks human and societal immorality, folly, or stupidity through irony or humor in order to evoke change. Swift leaves nothing and nobody unscathed in his novel; Gulliver's Travels satirizes politics, math, science, and international relations among others.

Watch a fun summary from Shmoop below before you begin:

Reading Assignment: Gulliver's Travels

Read Part 1 and Part 2 of Gulliver's Travels. Links to an external site. When reading Gulliver's Travels, keep in mind Swift's purpose—to indirectly criticize political and societal actions in 18th century England. Note the concepts Swift wants readers to consider:

  • Political Parties (Issues between the "Low-Heels" and "High-Heels")
  • Politics Between Countries ("Lilliput" represents England and "Blefuscu" represents France)
  • Religious/Political Loyalties ("Big-Endians" are Catholic France and "Little-Endians" are Protestant England)

Try to recognize the various examples of irony and satire regarding subjects such as politics and religion when reading.

Satire Self-Assessment

After reading the various satirical works in the lesson, practice comprehension below:

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.