The great age of satire

As all of you already know, the literature appearing between 1660 and 1785, also known as the Restoration and the eighteenth century literature, can be divided in three lesser periods of about 40 years each.

The second period, from 1700 to 1744/45, is marked by the influence of Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift, indeed this period ends with their deaths in 1744 and 1745 respectively. Among others, these two take part of the new and brilliant group of writers that emerge in the early eighteenth century. Determined to preserve good sense and civilized values, they turn their wit against fanaticism and innovation. Therefore this is a great age of satire. Satires during this period aimed to point out the shortcomings of society through ridiculing accepted standards of thought, exposing Britain´s defects and punishing the hypocrisy of the time.

Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift are well known for their sharply perceptive works. Pope, in his The Rape of the Lock, in which he is Horatian[i] in tone, does not actively attack the self-important pomp of the British aristocracy, but rather presents it in such a way that gives the reader a new perspective from which to easily view the action in the story as foolish and ridiculous. Pope is able to illuminate the moral degradation of society to the public. However, Swift´s A Modest Proposal, is a Juvenalian[ii] satire, shockingly revealing and often overlooked dimension of British colonialism with regards to the Irish through savage ridicule and disdainful contempt. Swift´s satirical tone, relying on realism and harshness to carry its message, is much more acerbic from his counterpart, perfectly displaying Juvenalian satire´s ability to shock and ridicule.

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[i] Named for the Roman satirist, Horace. This kind of satire playfully criticizes some social vice through gentle, mild, and light-hearted humour. It directs with, exaggeration, and self-deprecating humour toward what it identifies as folly, rather than evil.

[ii] Named after the Roman satirist Juvenalian, this kind of satire is more contemptuous and abrasive than the Horatian. Juvenalian satire addresses social evil through scorn, outrage, and savage ridicule. This form is often pessimistic, characterized by irony, sarcasm, moral indignation and personal invective, with less emphasis on humour.