Why is the 18th Century Called an Age of Satire?

18th Century the Age of Satire

Satire can be described as the literary art in verse or prose, the function of which is to expose the vices or follies of some person or persons, with the purpose of ridiculing or bantering. The objective of satire is critical, but a good satire, as noted by Dryden, has clinical and corrective effects too.

 

The 18^th century is essentially an Age of Satire. Judging and condemning became common to the society of this age, and this habit naturally gave birth to the spirit of satire. Actually in the 18th century satire is everywhere in the air. There is satire in poetry, in drama, in prose, as well as in the essay and novel. Indeed it is a great age of Prose-Satire, and Jonathan Swift, the greatest of prose Satirists in English, belongs to this period. Addison and Steele are the other remarkable prose satirists of the century. So Satire is the predominant form of literature of the 18^th century and Swift, Addison and Steele used this powerful weapon in their famous work.

 

You Can also Read:

• Addison’s Prose Style after Sir Roger at Church

• Character of Sir Roger de Coverly

• Addison and Steele and Their Contribution to English Prose