Satire In Eighteenth Century Essay Research Paper

Satire In Eighteenth Century Essay, Research Paper

The eighteenth century is often called an age of reason, propriety, and enlightenment; but it was also an age of squalor, filth, disease, crime, prostitution, violence, and insanity and these less attractive (but perhaps more interesting) elements are favorites of the eighteenth century writers. Satire was an important form of expression throughout the enlightenment period. Throughout this paper, the writer will give examples of satire used by the writers. Some of the poetry that will be exemplified are: “Candide” written by Marie De Voltaire, “Gulliver s Travel s written by: Jonathan Swift, and “Oroonoko” written by: Aphra Behn.

“Candide” on the surface is a witty, galactic story. However when inspected deeper it is a writing against people of an uneducated status. Candid is an archetype of these idiocracies, for he lacks reason and has optimism that is truly irking, believing that this is the best of all possible Worlds. Thus, Voltaire uses a witty, bantering tale on the surface, but in depth a cruel bombast against the ignorance of his times.

Candide has reason only in the form of a companion which he relies for advice. His companion is of course Dr. Pangloss. He consistently dribbles to Dr. Pangloss about what should be done. At last to the happiness of readers Pangloss is killed by being hanged. But this means that Candide s reason is also dead! No problem, he just goes and finds a new companion, “Lacking him (Pangloss), let s consult the old women”. He soon loses her, gains another, loses him, and then gains another. Thus we see that Candide can only think if he has a companion. Voltaire is thus saying that all the nobles are really idiots and says

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they are only smart because they have philosophers. This is typically Enlightenment, because nobles, are stupid and must have philosophers to make them Enlightened.

Candide is consistently being brainwashed by reason (Pangloss) saying that we love in “the best of times” yet it quite obviously is not “the best of times”. For how can there be, in the best of all Worlds, war, slavery, and many more abominations. Half-way through the book it would appear that Candide has given up his optimism when he looked at the Negro slave. “Oh Pangloss.. I ll have to give up your optimism at once”. But to the distress of the readers he has not given up his optimism. “Since I found you, I m sure I can find Cunegnde again”. This we see that he has quickly recovered his optimism. Voltaire is using Candide s blatant optimism to relate to the people of his time that also have the same type of optimism.

He also talks about the philosophy that states all actions are a part of an illustrious, benevolent plan. It is Pangloss who says “it is impossible for things to be where they are”. For all is well”. What Pangloss is saying that a thing greater then man (God) has everything laid out, and everything is for the best. It is here that Voltaire s attack on Christianity begins. He bombast s them for believing that all the World is a stage, and that God has written the script. This idea of predestination is the antithesis of the Enlightenment Period, and thus it is only natural that Voltaire, a typical Enlightenment writer, harangue these notions by means of a person who believes in this until his death – Candide.

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Finally we see that Voltaire is writing a typical Enlightenment work because Candide is a jeremiad against those people that are lacking enlightenment knowledge, by this of course, lacking the epitomes of the period: reason, senses and self-interest. Thus, Voltaire is using a charming story to attack the people of his time who are against or are not enlightened. One reason that Candide is typically enlightenment is because it makes fun of the reader who thinks that it is merely a comical story of a man and a quest for his lover.

Jonathan Swift wrote “Gulliver s Travels” in 1762 with the intent of entertaining many individuals. Entertainment through satire is what Swift had in mind. This was accomplished when Bantam Books first published his tales in 1962. It was again published by Bantam Books in 1981 in New York, New York.

To fully understand “Gulliver s Travels” one must first reflect upon the following: the plot, character, setting, theme, point of view, conflict, climax, resolution, symbolism, and figurative language. These ideas will help the reader comprehend some of the ideas portrayed throughout the novel, as well as why Swift wrote them. The setting plays an important role in all novels, one must take into consideration that the four different parts of the book have different settings. The first setting is more or less on an Island called Lilliput, on 5. November. 1699. Gulliver ended up on this island due to a ship wreck. The setting to the second part of the novel happens to be on his arrival to another Island that Gulliver wishes to inspect for water. This was on 16. June. 1703. The third part of the

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book has many different little scenes. The first takes place on Laputa, an Island of deformed creatures. The fourth and final part of the book takes place in the Country of Houyhnhnms.

The main character, Gulliver is a well educated sailor. He has been recommended to be a sailor. Traveling around the World, exploring new places, Gulliver me