5. Satire Differs from Humour and Wit

Satire, humour and wit are often used to mean different literary species. Like humour and wit, satire is also an intellectual activity and arouses laughter. But satire is different from both humour and wit.

In literature, humour occupies a distinct place. Humour has a universal appeal throughout the world irrespective of age, education and status and does not require any special training for its enjoyment.^[1] Humour is a form of mellow, refined and intellectual laughter; it is caused by incongruity and presented in comedy through the media of character, situations, words or manners.^[2]

Again wit lies in some form of words. It is included within humour. But wit is more intellectual in displaying of cleverness and quickness of perception than humour. The term wit connotes a brilliant paradoxical style and devotes a kind of verbal expression, which is brief, deft and intentionally contrived to produce a shock of comic surprise resulting in unearthing something hidden or concealed.^[3]

Satire, on the other hand is a less amusing species of laughter; satire is one kind of literary form which is employed to create fun and disdain at what is unbecoming and absurd.

Both wit and humour arouse laughter. The laughter that results from the play of wit is spectacular and superficial, while it is something deep and dignified in the laughter of humour.^[4] On the other hand, laughter that satire arouses is bitter and sarcastic.

To arouse laughter is the main purpose of humour. But in satire, humour is used as a weapon. In humour, laughter is its end. In satire, laughter is only means and ridiculing is its end. Again the laughter of a humorist is not attacking, but satire attacks with the blow of intellect. On the other hand wit creates fun.

Humour arises spontaneously, while satire is employed with a definite purpose. Satire is used to give teachings, to correct and to blow those who are wrong and hypocrite. Again, wit indicates sharpness of mental faculty. A witty person can grasp the situation at once and can make remarks in an amusing way.

Humour may amuse anyone anywhere. It always arouses delight. Satire is also amusing, but its main objective is mocking somebody or something. Humour is only meant for entertainment, but satire wounds individuals and groups for the sake of the society as a whole.

In satire, the satirist criticizes hypocrisy and immoralities of the society with the intention to reform it. Wit may also point out other’s frailties, but in an amusing way and without having any reformative intention. On the other hand, humour has the quality of amusement but criticism is absent.

In humour sympathy or kindness must be present. On the other hand, when anger and cruelty enters into the wit, it becomes satire.

Satire is a kind of lampoon which involves keenness of intellect. Again humour is intellectual in the sense, it is connected with feelings. Humour touches everyone’s mind and heart. On the other hand, wit generally expresses intelligence through humour.

Satire aims at deriding vices and follies without showing sympathy. Satire ridicules the frailties of human nature. Thus, satire may be unpleasing or merciless. But the laughter that humour generates is kind and compassionate. Humour embraces all the incongruities of human in a sympathetic manner. Thus, humour is pleasing.

In satire, neither amusement nor merriment is observed like wit and humour. The main purpose of satire is to expose the vices and follies by ridiculing. Satire does not encourage laughter like humour.

Satire is concerned with morality but humour may not hold moral purpose.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Raghavan, Dr. V., The Comic Elements in Sanskrit Literature, Introduction, p.v

[2]:

Bhattacharyya, Birendra Kumar, Humour and Satire in Assamese literature, Introduction, p.5

[3]:

Upadhyaya, Prof. Vachaspati, Proceedings of World Sanskrit Conference, Vol.I, p.88

[4]:

Dutta, Kalyannath, Some Aspects of the Study of Literature, p.92