The Role of Satire in Literature for a Social Reform
Author : Mohammed Jamal Amhimmid
Abstract :
This article covers the areas where Satire has got its prominent impact in Literature. The meaning and the scope of satire has been vividly discussed with historical touches in the beginning and the definition of this term has been widely amplified as per the excellent remarks of different scholars like John Dryden and Dr. Johnson and moreover, How the writers have used satire to have its tremendous value in the society with their literary contributions like Chaucer, Milton, Alexander Pope, George Bernard Shaw, Jonathan Swift, Earnest Hemmingway and etc. In fact, Satire is found in all fields of Literature like Poetry, Drama, Novel and Prose writings and the classical work of Criticism. Attempts have been made to focus on the truth that satire has been accepted and appreciated right from Chaucer’s time to this day despite the fact it has a must past origin. In addition to that, it is also discussed here how and where different writers have handled satire to bring correction to drive away follies widely found in the society and have used them as a sharp weapon as in the words of Alexander Pope “O Sacred weapons used for Truth’s defense” which means it is a sharp knife to cut off the rotten substance that corrupts the society from family, society, nation and the world as whole. It also explained the circumstances that prompted them to make note of satires in their literary works. There are remarkable touches of satire in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales with an example of “The Pardoner” which has been highlighted here and in Chaucer’s observation he was in real need of change in heart, mind and soul. Another example of Hemmingway’s advocacy for peace who has really experienced the horrors of war, found in his novel “Farewell to Arms”. People’s blind beliefs, the negligence of the rulers that affects the common man, and above all the change that is expected to liberate the society have been displayed with sufficient touches from the works of literature. The aim of the article is to make sure that satire is not simply a lampoon or just an agent to ridicule but also an finest tool to bring forth correction and repentance from follies, superstitions and hypocrisy but to promote peace, love, harmony, awareness and gladness in the light of satire in literature.
Keywords :
Satire, social, reform, pardoner, farewell
