Use Of Satire In Tartuffe

Satire in Moliere and Swift

Satire is the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or humor to criticize human folly or vice that is prevalent in Moliere's Tartuffe. The character of Tartuffe is a prime example of this literary technique, as he is portrayed as a religious hypocrite who manipulates the naive Orgon into believing that he is a virtuous man. For instance, when Tartuffe attempts to seduce Elmire, he says, "I'd rather die than hurt you in the least, and I would sooner die than let you go. I burn for you with a pure flame" (Act 4, Scene 5). This statement is ironic and satirical because the audience knows that Tartuffe's intentions are far from pure. In Act 1, Scene 5, when Orgon's wife, Elmire, confronts Tartuffe about his hypocrisy, he

The title itself is satirical, as "A Modest Proposal" suggests a reasonable solution to a problem, but the content of the proposal is far from reasonable. Swift uses hyperbole and irony to mock the idea that the poor should sell their children as food, stating "A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food" (paragraph 9). He chastises the English landlords and politicians who exploit the Irish people, stating "I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal unless it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom" (paragraph 28). Swift also challenges the Irish people to take action and help themselves, stating "who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children" (paragraph 22). Another example of satire in A Modest Proposal is when Swift sarcastically suggests that the sale of babies for food could be a solution to the problem of overpopulation: "I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand couples whose wives are breeders; from which number I subtract thirty thousand couples who are able to maintain their own children...The remaining hundred and seventy thousand will be all good breeders; and these being prodigiously cheap, may

She says, "I'm really angry at my parents for not giving me enough money to buy a new car," and "I'm going to have to slum it in this old Porsche until they give me the cash for a new one." The satire here is aimed at the excessive materialism and entitlement of some teenagers who have grown up with affluence. The video uses humor to criticize this behavior and highlight the need for more empathy and generosity toward those in need. In "Brain-Dead Teen, Only Capable of Rolling Eyes And Texting, To Be Euthanized," The Onion takes a jab at the pervasive use of technology and the resulting loss of real-life communication skills. The video presents a fictional scenario where a teenager, who is unable to communicate except through eye rolls and text messages, is scheduled to be euthanized. The video mocks the obsession with technology and social media, with lines like "Experts say she represents the future of human communication" and "The teen's mother, who communicates with her daughter primarily through Facebook, has vowed to fight the decision." The satire is aimed at the dependence on technology to the point of losing basic human communication skills. Modern satire plays an important role in our society by critiquing societal issues in an accessible and engaging way. Examples of modern satire can be found in TV shows, movies, and books, including "The