Satire is a literary genre that uses irony, humor, or sarcasm to criticize any social, political and moral vices in a humorous way for a moral purpose or for the perfection of humanity. Indeed a satire attacks foolishness, follies, vices, and wrongs by making fun of them cleverly. Its one and only goal is to stir up human conscience to make changes for the better. The main elements of a satire are humor, criticism and moral tone. Satire can be seen as the particular literary way of making possible the improvement of humanity and its institutions in both works: Moliere's "Tartuffe" 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 “Tartuffe” by Moliere, many things and behaviors can be found satirized. However, one can see that the play focuses mainly on the issue of religious hypocrisy. Tartuffe is the antagonist, he represents the hypocrite who preaches religious devotion yet does not live himself by the morals that he tries to force upon others. His main …show more content…
As the play begins, Dorine, who is the maid, can be seen to be aware of the real Tartuffe as she says “he passes for a saint in your opinion. In fact, he’s nothing but a hypocrite.” As Moliere uses comedy in the play, through the humor one can see its main idea, which is the disapproval of those who praise solely for show. “So there is nothing that I find more base than specious piety’s dishonest face-than these bold mountebanks, these histrios whose impious mummeries and hollow shows exploit our love of Heaven,” Cleante says referring to Tartuffe. From this proclamation, the author makes it evident that the intention of the play was to use satire to show the hypocrites involved within the
In “Tartuffe” by Moliere, many things and behaviors can be found satirized. However, one can see that the play focuses mainly on the issue of religious hypocrisy. Tartuffe is the antagonist, he represents the hypocrite who preaches religious devotion yet does not live himself by the morals that he tries to force upon others. His main …show more content…
As the play begins, Dorine, who is the maid, can be seen to be aware of the real Tartuffe as she says “he passes for a saint in your opinion. In fact, he’s nothing but a hypocrite.” As Moliere uses comedy in the play, through the humor one can see its main idea, which is the disapproval of those who praise solely for show. “So there is nothing that I find more base than specious piety’s dishonest face-than these bold mountebanks, these histrios whose impious mummeries and hollow shows exploit our love of Heaven,” Cleante says referring to Tartuffe. From this proclamation, the author makes it evident that the intention of the play was to use satire to show the hypocrites involved within the