Saniya Puri
English (Hons.) Second Year (B)
Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University
Paper for American Literature
Teacher-Mrs. Usma Khan
13th October, 2014
Discuss how “London” is a satire on corruption and degradation of the society of London during that time.
Written in 1738, Samuel Johnson’s major published work, the poem London is a piece of literature that is satirical and inserts ironic commentary on the corruption-stricken London and the degradation of its society. The 263-lined poem is an imitation of the Third Satire of Juvenal. Interestingly, it is to be noted that 18th Century British literature saw the rise of this concept of ‘imitation’ especially by poets like Alexander Pope who used to write ‘imitations’ of the classical works …show more content…
He had “ostentatious” wealth, his Excise Bill of 1733 led the excise officers to ransack and check for tax evasion making it look like an invasion on British Liberties and attack on their wealth (Introduction, p18), bribery and manipulation was fed for the elections to be held, his supporters were often bought by wealth and so on. Since Walpole used such methods to incur power in the nation, people who were eager to voice their own opinions were left poverty stricken and thus, Walpole was unpopular among those men. His ways and means could gather many but not genuine followers. This very corruptive shade of London is what Johnson has tried to reflect upon and has depicted the same through his work. It is often observed that the poem has used the sure shot formula of disguising the criticism within a well-structured fictional character or plot to state an opinion which wasn’t allowed to be said out with a free voice in public. Therefore, using satire was a good plan to voice one’s ideas on a corruption stricken nation whose powerful men were laced with bribery, manipulation and cheat codes. Not just elections but Walpole’s governance controlled theatres, stage performances, Press and political ties with other nations. His decisions were primarily drifted with a single-track theory of gaining maximum power and wealth for his own good. Such restrictions and the peacemaking with Spain made some of the poets and poor even more furious of him. But since he was positioned in the society in such a hierarchal order, therefore, his decisions were seldom critiqued directly. Hence, Johnson’s poem becomes elemental in reflecting how the London society was slowly and steadily corroding. This poem
English (Hons.) Second Year (B)
Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University
Paper for American Literature
Teacher-Mrs. Usma Khan
13th October, 2014
Discuss how “London” is a satire on corruption and degradation of the society of London during that time.
Written in 1738, Samuel Johnson’s major published work, the poem London is a piece of literature that is satirical and inserts ironic commentary on the corruption-stricken London and the degradation of its society. The 263-lined poem is an imitation of the Third Satire of Juvenal. Interestingly, it is to be noted that 18th Century British literature saw the rise of this concept of ‘imitation’ especially by poets like Alexander Pope who used to write ‘imitations’ of the classical works …show more content…
He had “ostentatious” wealth, his Excise Bill of 1733 led the excise officers to ransack and check for tax evasion making it look like an invasion on British Liberties and attack on their wealth (Introduction, p18), bribery and manipulation was fed for the elections to be held, his supporters were often bought by wealth and so on. Since Walpole used such methods to incur power in the nation, people who were eager to voice their own opinions were left poverty stricken and thus, Walpole was unpopular among those men. His ways and means could gather many but not genuine followers. This very corruptive shade of London is what Johnson has tried to reflect upon and has depicted the same through his work. It is often observed that the poem has used the sure shot formula of disguising the criticism within a well-structured fictional character or plot to state an opinion which wasn’t allowed to be said out with a free voice in public. Therefore, using satire was a good plan to voice one’s ideas on a corruption stricken nation whose powerful men were laced with bribery, manipulation and cheat codes. Not just elections but Walpole’s governance controlled theatres, stage performances, Press and political ties with other nations. His decisions were primarily drifted with a single-track theory of gaining maximum power and wealth for his own good. Such restrictions and the peacemaking with Spain made some of the poets and poor even more furious of him. But since he was positioned in the society in such a hierarchal order, therefore, his decisions were seldom critiqued directly. Hence, Johnson’s poem becomes elemental in reflecting how the London society was slowly and steadily corroding. This poem