How Can One 'Tire' Of Satire?

Satire has the up-most importance in the Enlightened times. Though it can be found in various forms and styles, it’s use is effective in getting points across. It allows the debate of ideas and for people to explore other options to society’s problems. What makes satire so glorious is the fact they “dumb down” the topic at hand & make it like a farce, while the real meaning is only appreciated & understood by the intellectuals of society.

The Enlightened times was a period of profound change. People’s thinking was flipped over on its head. The Earth was no longer flat. There were many issues that needed to be deal with. To do so, the art of satire was born. Satire uses puns, symbolism, and sarcasm to get its point across. These techniques have obviously proven themselves to be effective, since satire is still used today. The arguments were made potent and precisely using satire.

One of the most famous of satires from this time was Jonathon Swift’s “A Modest Proposal.” In it, you can see how outlandish statements can have hidden meanings. He talks about mothers putting up their children as a food source to help with their poverty. For example, this quote says: ”I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled ...” This is actually a zing against Americans. At this time, the Americans beat the English for control of The United States. He’s saying the Americans are babyeaters. This is humorous, yet a diss towards them.

He also makes a jab at Catholicism. He writes: “Infant's flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March, and a little before and after; for we are told by a grave author, an eminent French physician, that fish being a prolific diet, there are more children born in Roman Catholic countries about nine months after Lent than at any other season; therefore, reckoning a year after Lent, the markets will be more glutted than usual, because the number of popish infants is at least three to one in this kingdom: and therefore it will have one other collateral advantage, by lessening the number of papists among us.” Since the English hated the Roman Catholics, this is hilarious for the fact he thinks they should eat all of the babies of their moral enemies. Plus, the sexual undertones make the piece memorable, swift & incredible.

Satire is one of the most classic forms of criticism. It can single-handedly bring about change in ideas & spread new thoughts around intelligent circles. Without it, the Enlightenment era would have fell flat on its face. If it were not for satire, the world might not be the place it is today.