The role of satire in literature for a social reform

Abstract

This research paper covers those areas of English Literature where Satire has become the prominent feature and amazing tool to reveal hypocrisy profound in society in order to look for a change. Different prominent writers like John Dryden, Alexender Pope, George Bernard Shaw, Jonathan Swift, Earnest Hamingway and moreover have used satire in their literary contribution with the purpose to have its tremendous value in the society. Satire is developed in all different kinds of English literature like Poetry, Drama, Novel and Prose Writings and the classical work of criticism. Attempts have been made to focus on the truth that from Geoffery Chaucer’s time in 14th century who is known as the “Father Of English Satire” to till date, satire has been accepted, developed and appreciated by many important writers, poets, novelists and dramatists. In addition to that, this paper also explores here how and where different good satirists play the role of critics whose aim is to reform or correct human weaknesses, vices or follies and they have used satire as a sharp weapon which they use for their purposes is that of laughter. Their aim is to laugh at human folly, hypocrisy, vanity etc. and so to scorn it into shame. They rarely attack directly but clothes their attack in different forms like allegory, fable, mock heroic, parody or burlesque. It also reveals those circumstances that motivated them to use of satires in their famous literary works. There are many remarkable extents of satire in Geoffery Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” where he satirizes human weaknesses through a diverse cast of characters and their tales. Another example of Alexender Pope’s “The Rape Of Lock”. It is a mock epic. It is a mocking poem to which Pope mocks not only at the ‘little unguarded follies’ of the fair sex, but at the artificial life of 18th century London as a whole. The aim of the article is to throw light on the concept of use of satire in English literature by many scholars and to explore the author’s views that the function of literature is not merely entertain but also to reform the contemporary society.