Satirc Works: Voltaire, Moliere

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines satire as: "literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn." Besides this definition satire can also be seen as the particular literary way of making possible the improvement of humanity and its institutions. In all three works that we've discussed so far: Moliere's "Tartuffe," Voltaire's "Candide," and Swift's "A Modest Proposal" the authors indirectly criticize and ridicule human behavior and characteristics but with the mutual goal for improving these faults rather than just demolishing them. In Moliere's "Tartuffe," although many things and behaviors are satirized, the play focuses mainly on the issue of religious hypocrisy. Whereas Tartuffe is the obvious hypocrite and antagonist who represents those members of society who preach religious piety but do not themselves live by the morals they try to force upon others, Orgon is the complex character through whom this religious hypocrisy is channeled. In the beginning of the play it is hinted that Orgon is perceived as an honorable and respected man by his family and friends, but then through out the play the question raises why he has become such an absurd and unusual person. It seems that Orgon is the type of character who can no longer participate successfully in society and who then retires from society and attacks it. This can also be seen in his mother, Madame Pernelle. Orgon, having reached late middle age, needs to attach himself to a religious person, who believes will ensure his way in heaven. Having once adopted a life of piety, Orgon tries to become an exemplary of the pious person and goes to high extremes both in his words and deeds, especially by offering Tartuffe his daughter, expelling his son out of the house, and granting Tartuffe all his wealth. But once Tartuffe is unmasked and his hypocrisy discovered, Orgon reverses himself and determines to hate and persecute all pious men. Orgon in the play seems to represent man's extravagant and uncontrollable nature, which never takes the right and rational direction, but instead, constantly shifts between absurd extremes. In "Candide," Voltaire's satiric theme is broad and varied. Although the most interesting satire is the one on religion, especially the utopia in which Candide starts off the story in, the first in importance is philosophical optimism, specifically Pangloss's philosophy which in the novel this philosophical optimism seems to represent mankind's overall and overused optimism as means to copping with tragedy or loss. Pangloss's philosophy is both the most important point for debate among the novel's characters and one of the main targets of Voltaire's satire. Pangloss is inevitably humorous "Pangloss gave instruction in metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-nigology" his character is very predictable and superficial, his so called doctrine on optimism which is voiced out repeatedly that even great evil leads to good is opposed gross absurdity with absurdity. "It is clear, said he, that things cannot be otherwise than they are, for since everything is made to serve an end, everything necessarily serves the best end..." This is the philosophy that pulls the naïve character of Candide through fatigue, earthquake, a war and a couple of brushes with death. For Voltaire's purpose to satirize optimism especially Pangloss's and Candide's stubborn belief that human beings live in "best of all possible worlds" which constantly appear in the story, Voltaire brutally slaughters this philosophical optimism with the horrific events which are exaggerated with satiric, sarcastic and ironic remarks. In Swift's dehumanizing and horrific satire "A Modest Proposal," Swift through the character of the narrative satirizes the cruel situation between the English Protestants and Irish Catholics in the English led Ireland. What's really effective in this satire is the narrator through which Swift channels his criticism. The true horror of the proposal becomes apparent when his persona outlines his plans for selling the children of the poor to the rich, to be eaten as a delicacy. Even though a mad idea, it's presented with great sincerity. His idea is made even more ridiculous when he says that one "may flay the carcass: the skin of which...will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen." He goes on explaining the proposal by giving statistics, calculations, informing us of the age range and sex of the children which will be sold and the methods of making them more profitable. He stops at nothing to increase the profits and to save money and simultaneously solving the problem of the beggars. But behind all these cold blooded calculations Swift indirectly accuses the English Protestants although in very small numbers, for their brutal, bloodthirsty economical and political oppression of the poor Irish Catholics. It is clearly indicated that England would be more than willing to eat the Irish even without the proposal. But then the focus of Swift's criticism in this satire shifts to the Irish themselves for recognizing the horror of their own situation and not doing anything about it, not only the politicians and the rich Irish population but also the poor masses are accused of their indifferent state of not being able to solve their own problems. Looking at the bigger picture in this satiric piece Swift not only criticizes the Irish but truly satirizes overall man's incompetence in dealing with his own problems whether they're poor, rich, Irish, English white or black. Swift constantly makes underlying statements that appear throughout the novel, which clarify his strong feelings of resentment, bordering on hate for the incompetence that we all have