Pride and Prejudice is set in rural England in the early 19th century, and it follows the Bennet Family, which includes five very different sisters. Mrs. Bennet is anxious to see all her daughters married, especially as the modest family estate is to be inherited…
Satire Essay Examples and Topics
Satire is a literary genre that ridicules human and societal shortcomings. Through sarcasm and irony, its main goal is to offer constructive social criticism. It often uses figures of speech, such as double entendre, analogy, comparison, juxtaposition, exaggeration, burlesque, and parody.
Voltaire, Molière, Alexander Pope
The earliest examples of satire are found in an Egyptian writing called The Satire of the Trades. It dates from the 2nd millennium BC. Ancient Greeks used the form a lot, but they referred to it as parody or cynicism.
Satire is an old form of social study, and it’s regarded as one of the most effective ways to criticize and understand society. Throughout history, authors have used it to ridicule and debunk leading politicians, religious leaders, and other prominent figures of power.
The main goal of this literary form is to challenge popular opinions through irony and humor, and make people aware of the realistic state of affairs.
- “A poem in which wickedness or folly is censured.” – Samuel Johnson
- “Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own.” – Jonathan Swift
People have the right to use satire to criticize individuals and society. This right is protected by the U.S. Constitution as freedom of speech. Still, satire can be censored when it involves revulsion, victim targeting, and other offensive elements.
Satire can be used as a tactical weapon for triggering reforms in a society.
Regardless of the level of humor in its expression, satire can be malicious, harmful, and abusive.