...Your Name Instructor’s Name Course Name Date of Submission POLITICAL SATIRE Thesis Statement Political satire does in various ways alter the political history as it strengthens and accompanies political accomplishments. Political satire aims to inform individuals about matters pertaining to the general public as well as issues interconnected to government and politics, in a lighter but educational manner. It not only acts as a curative means to entertain citizens but also has a substantial effect on the political scene of a country. Based on this, “Political satire in the 21st century has a higher impact on the public opinion than a revealing newspaper article through creating humor and simplicity." Introduction The use of satire to express thoughts, themes, and opinions has been in existence since the early ages. It was written by an old Irish bard in an effort to put his solemn contempt upon the intended target. Mostly, satire targeted leaders, their styles of leadership, ideas and actions. The satire on the king, especially during the Irish king’s regime, was liable to result in his dethronement or even death. Political satire has been used in the past periods and continues to be used to criticize the political scenes in a humorous way. The use of satire over centuries as a literary tool has made it possible for essential thoughts, themes, and ideas to be passed across and expose the malfunctions and flaws in the society in a humorous manner. Over...
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...Swift intended Gulliver’s Travels to be a polemical act against the Whig Government and a satire on contemporary European civilization and perennial imperfections, follies and vices of humanity. It is said to combine topical and general satiric meanings, written in a general way so the reader can apply the topical meanings intended. Gulliver’s Travels is a masterfully disguised satire so it was hard for the Whig government to convict the author for treason or libel. Swift’s words and opinions come from the mouth of fictional characters in a vague or an ironic manner. His meanings are hid well enough in the text that the government could not convict him and the readers could read the aesthetics of the book with their own interpretations. According to the law at the time, an author could not be prosecuted if he used uncertain innuendos and fictional characters in attacking people, institutions or government, if the victim was not specifically named or identified by unambiguous evidence from the text, even though it might be obvious to readers, who was being satirized. Even though Gulliver’s Travels is ironic and a satire, Swift often lets Gulliver report what he sees and not cast a judgement. The Lilliputians are thus described by many of their good qualities. He lists many of the Lilliputian laws and customs that have good points, even though they are often contrary to those of England. Swift uses this to his advantage by pointing out the shortcomings of European society by contrasting...
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...n GULLIVER’S TRAVEL AS A POLITICAL SATIRE Gulliver’s Travel is widely known for Swift’s severe attack and satire on politics during his time and beyond. Swift had a close connection to politicians and their tactics because he worked as the Chief Publicity Agent and Adviser to the Tory ministry of Harley and St. John. He found politics as a very hateful job. He saw the vanity, pride and absurd whims of the monarchs, the stupidity of the aristocrats, plotting of the courtiers and corruptions of the politicians. And he decided to satirize all these in his Gulliver’s Travel. Politics among the Lilliputians: In the land of the Lilliputians, Swift mocks all the intrigues and treachery of the courts in England. The emperor of the Lilliputians represents George I, the Emperor of England who had an insatiable desire for conquest.The Lilliputians are English men reduced in stature.Their vices have been magnified and exposed.Blefusco is France.Gulliver is a gigantic St.John who has done much for the country but suffers for the treachery and ingratitude of the King and his ministers.The queen represents Queen Anne.Flimnap represents Walpole.The Prime Minister of Lilliput was a fine rope dancer represents The Prime minister of England who was a slippery opportunist.Swift satirises the absurd ambition of the Lilliputian King who considered himself the terror of the Universe.After Gulliver had destroyed the navy of Blefusco the Emperor wanted him to crush that country completely: “So...
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...President Obama just finished getting a new law passed though congress called Golfcare. This law requires every citizen of the United States buy a membership to a golf course by April. Since only the upper one percent of Americans were capable of having a golf membership up until now, Golfcare now allows for affordable golf memberships, since no one group of people should be able to own a golf membership. Don't forget that if you already have a golf membership somewhere, you get to keep that golf membership, until April. This law will cost about one grand to three grand depending on your social earnings, excluding taxes and other fees that come with the membership. Unfortunately the cost of being a golf member will have to rise fifty percent each year for four years. This will make wealthier people pay more while those who are poor or don't want a golf membership will have to pay a fine until they become a golf member. You have until you turn 27 and share your parents' golf membership and then you'll have to purchase your own. Regardless of whether you think you need one, you'll still have to buy them, regardless of your income or place of living. Government officials who haven't held a golf club in their life will be the ones administrating this law. They'll decide if your membership is old and needs to be replaced, or if you need to get an entirely new golf membership. Luckily the government officials aren't required to purchase a golf membership if they use the taxes of others...
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...Satire In the 1700's, satire was the focus of written and painted artifacts by the likes of Swift, Voltaire, and Hogarth. How do the style and topics of these men compare and contrast with specific forms of political satire used today? Give examples. I always assumed the main purpose of satire was for laughter but I actually came to realize that there is so much more to it. Satire as it was originally proposed as a form of literature using sarcasm, irony, and wit, to bring about a change in society, but in the eighteenth century Voltaire, Jonathan Swift and William Hogarth expanded satire to include politics, as well as art. During this time, any type of criticism of government would bring harsh punishment including death. This was their way of expressing feelings and the only true way they can safely criticize the government, churches, and aristocrats. In todays form of political satire there is definitely more humor added into each piece versus in the 1700’s. Political satire today is base more on the current status and a great example of this is a Satire drawing where Obama is standing in front of a big wall labeled “OBAMACARE” and the wall is cracking and leaking water. The drawing shows Obama covering one small crack with his finger and saying “Fixed! Happy?” That is something I can relate to and it is the current situation that society is living now. In the 1700’s satire was more about the future and consequences of things that were to come based on the decisions we made...
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...Comparative essay- Animal Farm Animal farm- Paragraph 1- manipulation by the pigs State they are educated elite, use intellectual superiority to manipulate the other animals. Quote shows them as apathetic and meddlers. State how Orwell is criticising Stalin and his Government. Paragraph 2- Propaganda by the pigs State Napoleon uses propaganda through squealer to push his ideas and implement his plans. Quote shows that Napoleon uses propaganda to get what he wants. State that Orwell is criticising Stalin’s manipulation of the Russian society a big ally of the propaganda is the animal’s ignorance and false memory Paragraph 3- Power of Napoleon State that Napoleon, whom represents Stalin, only gained and keeps his power through cruelty, treachery and making the other animals scared of him. Show that after the rebellion, Napoleon has taken the place of Mr Jones (seen through quote) State that the quote shows that Napoleon has dominance over the farm like Mr Jones. State that Orwell is criticising that after a rebellion, inevitably someone will rise to power over all and everything will be the same, maybe worse. Quotes- For manipulation- ‘Does it not say something about never sleeping in a bed? ... It says, ‘no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.’ (cynicism) For propaganda- When squealer assures the animals about trading with humans- ...
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...Horatian and Juvenalian Satire Satire has many definitions, but according to Merriam Webster satire can be defined as “A literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn” (Webster). This definition is likely used by many authors who exercise the application of satire. Satire has been in literature since ancient times; it is derived from the Latin satura, meaning "dish of mixed fruits," (Weisgerber). Many satirists have shared a common aim: to expose foolishness in all its guises — vanity, hypocrisy, formalism, reverence, and the intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself (Moyers). As previously mentioned, the term satire was originally derived from satura, defined by Quintilian, a roman rhetorician (Clarke). It was later discovered that two Roman poets, Juvenal and Horace, were responsible for further defining satirical works by their literary tone (Moyers). Thus, creating a systematic way to categorize satire into two different types, Horatian satire which approaches satirical observations, literature and performance in a humorous and lighthearted manner, and Juvenalian satire, which focuses on specific verbal or literary attacks on corrupt ideals or individuals (Weisgerber). I view Horatian satire as clever and humorous and find that it generally mocks others. Horatian is not negative; it aims to make fun of human behavior in a comic way. In a work using Horatian satire, readers often laugh at the characters in the story who are...
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...Assignment 1: Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” Dr. Anthony McCormack Strayer University World Culture II Gladys A. Reyes July 25, 2015 In the satire “A Modest Proposal’, Jonathan Swift expresses his feelings of frustration with regard to the aggravation and political issues in Ireland. He describes being frustrated with the indifference of Ireland politicians, the wealthy, the English tyranny, and the degradation and poor conditions in which many poor, Irish women and children have been forced to live in. Swift is embarrassed for those that come to the towns and travel the country, only to see the streets full and crowded with beggars. Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” satire is a reality called for the politician, the wealthy, and the people of Ireland to look for way to improve the lives of the poor, to stop the English social oppression, and to ultimately end the indifferences and life inequalities in Ireland (Levine, 1995). Jonathan Swift was born of Protestant, English parents in Dublin, Ireland on November 30, 1667. He was a man that was immersed in the secular world of men and woman, of politics and political intrigue. He was a devoted friend to those he loved as he was an implacable enemy to those he disliked. He lived in London most of his life, but after the death of Queen Anne in 1714, he was offered a position as Dean of St. Patrick’s in Dublin. He held his position until his death in 1745 at the age of seventy eight. He was buried in St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Glendinning...
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...• Theme o Symbolism Fiction is any form of narrative which deals, in part or in whole, with events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary and invented by its author(s). In contrast to this isnon-fiction, which deals exclusively in factual events. Elements of Fiction • Plot o Exposition o Rising action o Conflict Man vs Man Man vs Society Man vs Himself Man vs Nature Man vs Fate, Supernatural, Technology o Climax o Falling Action o Resolution • Setting o Social context o Mood • Characterization o Direct o Indirect • Point of View o First person o Objective o Omniscient o Limited Omniscient • Theme • Literary Techniques o Irony Verbal Dramatic Situational o Mood o Satire Horatian • Named for the Roman satirist, Horace, this playfully criticizes some social vice through gentle, mild, and light-hearted humour. It directs...
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...‘Scoop’ and consideration of other examples of satire that you have read, explore how ‘Scoop’ works as a satire. ‘Scoop’, published in 1938, was one of Evelyn Waugh’s earliest novels. In this novel Waugh presents a humorous and satirical view on Fleet Street journalists and their frenzied hunt of a scoop. Other novels, such as ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ by Jonathan Swift and ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell, both portray satirical messages throughout. In ‘Gulliver’s Travels’, Swift satirises human nature, and the political system and government. He uses Gulliver as a satirical device, and in order to portray the sarcasm and over-exaggeration of what Swift is satirising, he sends Gulliver on three journeys to strange lands, where he encounters odd people and thing, more tools that Swift uses. Gulliver's first journey takes him to the Land of Lilliput, where the local inhabitants of the land are six inch tall beings and he is a giant. His next journey brings him to Brobdingnag, where his situation is reversed, and he is a midget among giants. His third journey leads him to Laputa, a floating island which is inhabited by strange beings who derive their whole culture from music and mathematics. And finally Gulliver's fourth journey places him in the land of the Houyhnhnm, a society of intelligent, reasoning horses. By creating these four mysterious, ridiculous yet rather amusing journeys, Swift is able to add irony and satire of the English political system and the human ways. In Gulliver’s...
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...Satire and Politics in 2007 The United States has had a history of great leaders. Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Truman, the list goes on and on. Right now, however, it appears that this is not the case. Our current President has one of the lowest approval ratings in the history of our country (Newsweek). However it is almost time for the Bush era to come to an end. With the upcoming Presidential Election, citizens pay more attention to politics, world affairs, and news shows than usual. There are many different sources of news ranging from television, newspapers, and the internet. With technology constantly changing, many young Americans turn to alternative sources for their news, and some researchers and politicians feel that this is a problem. These young Americans rely on satirical, or “fake news” shows, along with internet resources such as Youtube to get updated on current affairs, and learn about Presidential candidates. According to a survey done in 2004, Warner found that 50% of Americans between the ages of 18-29 get at least some of their news from shows like the Daily Show or the Colbert Report. This is a dramatic change compared to the 2000 research which showed that only 9% watched these programs. These “fake news” programs are shows such as, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with John Stewart, and The Colbert Report. We investigated whether or not satirical news shows can actually influence a voter’s opinion about a political candidate. ...
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...agonising death. Is this mocking religion or is it provoking the audience to challenge their way of thinking? In today’s world, should movies, cartoons or books be allowed to satirize religion? As I live in a world which encourages freedom of speech and thought, I believe satire creates debate. Satire, a genre which uses humour to reveal the weaknesses of a person, idea, or belief, should be a welcome in any public debate, particularly if it is humorous more than vicious or spiteful. Satire...
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...Very “Modest” Irony and Satire Jonathan Swift was born in Ireland in the 18th century during an era that has come to be known as the Golden Age of Satire. As a writer, he was profoundly influenced by the political climate of his times, especially the plight of the Irish poor, which spurred him to write the satirical, social commentary “A Modest Proposal.” The satirical essay addresses the issue of inequality and poverty experienced by the Irish through an outlandish solution that is “beneficial” to everyone. Verbal is present throughout the essay and even in the title. The proposal is far from modest and is rather shocking which Swift does to grab the attention of the reader. He satirically recommends commoditizing Irish babies to improve the economic outlook by selling poor Irish babies to the rich as a delicious food item. Swift’s proposal in his essay is a technique used to highlight a real issue and bring awareness to it by ridiculing the public (reader) through satire. The definition of satire is the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, and ridicule to expose and criticize people’s vices. In “A Modest Proposal,” Swift does exactly that through clever social commentary on the issue of poverty among the poor in Ireland through the various forms of satire. Swift differentiates the social classes in his writing through imagery, detailing the differences between the rich and the poor. He states, “Prodigious number of children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their...
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...Voltaire successfully composes possibly the most well-known satirical pieces of literature. Mad magazine, The Simpsons, and Saturday Night Live, examples of some of the comical staples that satiate our desire for humor. In our society, satire is among the most prevalent of comedic forms. This was not always true. Before the 18th century, satire was not a fully developed form. Satire, however, rose out of necessity; writers and artists needed a way to ambiguously criticize their governments, their churches, and their aristocrats. By the 18th century, satire was hugely popular. “Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own”. (Swift) Satire as an art form has its roots in the classics, especially in the writings of Voltaire. Satire as it was originally proposed was a form of literature using sarcasm, irony, and wit, to bring about a change in society, but in the eighteenth century Voltaire, Jonathan Swift and William Hogarth expanded satire to include politics, as well as art. The political climate of the time was one of tension. Any criticism of government would bring harsh punishments, sometimes exile or death. In order to voice opinions without fear of punishment, malcontented writers turned to satire. Voltaire’s Candide and Swift’s Modest Proposal are two examples of this new genre. By creating a fictional world modeled after the world he hated, Voltaire was able to attack scientists, and theologians with impunity. Jonathan Swift...
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...Satire is a technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or society by using humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule. An example of satires are political cartoons which we witness every day in newspapers and magazines. These types of cartoons criticize some recent actions of political figures in a comical way. The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and The Larry Sanders Show are all examples of television satires. “If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we must pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that he commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don’t want to do it. “(Colbert, The Colbert Report) In the eighteenth century, a dominant intellectual movement happened. This was called the Enlightenment period, also known as the age of reason. While the Enlightenment was a broad international movement, many of its leading thinkers were French. The Enlightenment thinkers are known collectively as philosophes, the French word for philosophers. In fact, the...
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