1. Meaning of Satire

The word ‘satire’ is derived from the Latin word satura, which means ‘medley’ or ‘mixure’. It is seen that the first satires contained miscellaneous poems of diverse nature. The origin of the English word ‘satire’ can be traced in the age of Roman rhetorician Quintilian (c.35-c.100). In his well-known statement satura--tota nostra est (meaning satire is all our own)^[1], the word satura is mentioned. By satura, Quintilian means something specific and definite which has been nearly submerged in one’s sense of the word ‘satire’ today. For Quintilian, satura designates specifically a form of literature, a genus.^[2]

It is not easy to put a satisfactory definition of satire. Actually, there exists no universally accepted definition of satire. Generally, satire is used in ridiculing or exposing vices and follies. It also reflects barrenness of values. Satire may be employed to individuals, traditions or customs of the society. Satire is a special type of composition of which the motive is to arouse disdain, fun and abhorrence at what is unbecoming and ridiculous. The original meaning of the term satire in English and other languages, is a literary work of a special kind, in which vices, follies, stupidities and abuses etc. are held up to ridicule and contempt.^[3] In reality, satire arises when a satirist finds any deviation from the ideals of normal life. In his dictionary, Johnson defined satire as a poem, ‘in which wickedness or folly is censured’.^[4] It is a kind of poem of which the main function is to unveil all kinds of prevailing immoralities and wickedness of a society or the section of such a society. One of the most famous definitions is the one suggested by Swift. He wrote, ‘satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own, which is the chief reason for that kind of reception it meets in the world, and that so very few are offended with it’.^[5]

It is generally agreed that both criticism and humour have to be present in a work if it can be called satiric.^[6] To be a satirical work, the satirist has to find out things to criticize. A satirist criticizes the hypocrisy, corruption and all kinds of immoralities prevailing in the society in order to improve the society as a whole. However, religion, hypocrisy, discrepancy between profession and practice, misinterpretations of theories are the immediate subjects that can be satirized.^[7] Satire without humour becomes personal attack. Therefore, in satire, generally laughter is used as a means to ridicule the object. But, here laughter is used not to arouse mere pleasure and fun. Satire is a kind of protest. As Ian Jack has put it very adroitly‘satire is born of the instinct to protest; it is protest become art’.^[8]

Satire is a commonly used literary form in almost all literature. Generally, in all the languages there are some works which are fully satiric and in some works, satire occurs as an incidental element. Satire is one of the most original, challenging and memorable forms.^[9] There are different kinds of literary forms in satire. A satirical work may be in the form of a novel, a drama, a story, a song or a poem. Satire may exist anywhere in literature incidentally or as a whole, and it happens when the author or the dramatist or the novelist or the poet finds any incongruities between the ideal and the real life. On the other hand, without the author’s intention of criticizing or correcting, a literary work cannot be accepted as satire. In satirical literature, generally, the satirist depicts real like characters to expose their frailties.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Robert, C. Elliott, The Power of Satire: Magic, Ritual, Art, p.100

[2]:

ibid., p.101

[3]:

Hodgart, Mattew, Satire, Introduction, p.7

[4]:

Cuddon, J.A., Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, p.780

[5]:

ibid., p.780

[6]:

Feinberg, Leonard, The Satirist: His Temperament, Motivation and Influence, p.6

[7]:

Srinivasulu, Suram, Haasya and Prahasana: A Critical Study, p.221

[8]:

Cuddon, J.A., Dictionary of Literary terms and Literary Theory, p.780

[9]:

Highet, Gillbert, The Anatomy of Satire, Introduction