Satire as Social and Political Commentary in 18th-Century Literature
This essay discusses the role of satire as a tool for political and social criticism in eighteenth-century literature, focusing on authors who incorporated it into their works.
The Age of Satire
The 18th century is often called the Age of Satire due to satire’s significant influence on literature, appearing in drama, prose, essays, and novels. This period saw the rise of wit and reason, with satire used to ridicule social conventions and expose the flaws and hypocrisy of society, particularly among the upper classes. Some writers employed satire to promote logic and address the social problems they highlighted.
Satire in Restoration Poetry: John Dryden
In Restoration poetry, satire is evident in the works of John Dryden, a prominent literary figure known as a poet, playwright, literary critic, satirist, and translator. He served as a model for satirists like Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope. Dryden’s Mac Flecknoe (1676-77) and Absalom and Achitophel (1681), written during his tenure as poet laureate under Charles II, utilize satire to exalt Charles II’s reign and critique his adversaries.
The Scriblerus Club and its Influence
Much of the 18th-century literary output revolves around the Scriblerus Club, formed in 1714 and based on the satirist Martinus Scriblerus. This informal association of male authors included Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, John Gay, John Arbuthnot, Henry St. John, and Thomas Parnell. They identified with satire, addressing the high levels of corruption through their writing. Founded by Dr. Arbuthnot, the club became a hub for satirical works, with its members being key figures in the genre.
Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock
Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock reflects the Scriblerus Club’s focus on exposing corruption, pedantry, superficiality, and hypocrisy. Critics view it as a mirror to 18th-century English aristocratic society. The poem depicts a time when the wealthy, including politicians, engaged in trivial activities like gossiping, playing cards, and pursuing romantic affairs, suggesting a morally corrupt society. For example, lines 25-27 of canto III, “Belinda now…decide their doom,” illustrate this as Belinda engages in a card game, Ombre, treated as a grand battle, highlighting the triviality of upper-class life.
John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera
John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera attacks the vanity of the era, denouncing the vast social disparities between the upper class and the rest of society. Conceived as a political statement, the play reflects Gay’s belief that the royal court rewarded hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy over virtue and talent. The play observes how “the fine gentlemen imitate the gentlemen of the road, or the gentlemen of the road the fine gentlemen” (p. 2656). Gay also satirizes the conventions of Italian opera, popular at the time, through the use of “airs” (e.g., p.2639 “Thus when […] with him”; p.2641 “No power […] oh, etc”…) where characters sing and dance, mocking the operatic form.
These “airs” are interruptions of the dialogue where the characters sing and dance, thus mocking the Italian opera. Instead of upper-class characters typical of Italian opera, Gay dramatizes low-class individuals, refusing to judge their moral failings. He employs duality as a satirical device, exemplified by the characters Macheath and Peachum. Macheath appears to be an upper-class captain but is a thief, gambler, and whoremonger, while Peachum seems to be an honored, humble, working man but is the runner of a criminal highwaymen syndicate. The duality is also evident in the title itself, contrasting ‘beggar’ and ‘opera’.
Jonathan Swift’s Irish Concerns and Satirical Works
Jonathan Swift focused on the future of the Irish people, criticizing the English taxation that led to starvation in A Modest Proposal. His views made him unpopular in some circles. Gulliver’s Travels contains references to Ireland’s relationship with England and offers harsh criticism of science and humanity. Swift’s other satirical works include A Tale of a Tub, which satirizes religious tensions, and The Battle of the Books, a parody of modern science (Royal Society). Gulliver’s Travels includes a critical section on the Royal Society, reflecting Swift’s dislike of science.
Henry Fielding’s Satire and Social Commentary
Henry Fielding excelled at satirizing hypocrisy, particularly among the upper classes “the highest life is the dullest lif”). As an anti-Pamelaist, he wrote the satirical novel Joseph Andrews in response to Samuel Richardson’s Pamela, mocking sentimental fashion in the tradition of the Scriblerus Club. Fielding denounced hypocrisy and sentimentality, acting as both a social and political satirist. His play Pasquin, which insulted Robert Walpole, led to the Licensing Act and a system of censorship.
Conclusion: Satire as a Catalyst for Change
In conclusion, satire in 18th-century literature served as a response to the injustice, corruption, vice, vanity, and negative values prevalent in society. These authors aimed to instigate change and reform society through critical commentary, linking satire to critical opinion and political and social thought.