The common concept of satire defines the act of mockery or ridiculing a person or situation. It is indeed an act of criticism. And this creates a thin line of difference between humor and sarcasm. Moreover, with the increasing popularity of humor, the diminishing acceptability of satire in the modern age can be evident.
It is undeniable that nearly all humans like to cherish amusement. The reason is pure delight brings unadulterated happiness to the mind and soul. And in the present time, humor appears as the best source of driving “this quality of being amusing.” However, this blooming of pure delight decreases the growth of satire drastically.
In reality, people no more feel the urge to ridicule, breathing in satire. In modern times, piercing satirical remarks appear more like bitter criticism. And those who don’t take these remarks seriously prefer to embrace them with mere “shouts of laughter.”
An unavoidable truth is present-day ordinary men don’t feel the impulse to take on unnecessary seriousness. As a result, they even don’t hesitate to endure a serious man as the initiator of amusement only. In short, that man doesn’t get recognized with earnestness.
Nearly the entire world, especially the English literary surrounding states like England, the USA, and others, earnestly need honest satirists. The reason is the necessity of a meaningful ridicule power is becoming non-existent gradually.
However, that doesn’t mean that the current literary arena has forgotten the essence of sarcasm. The works of many eminent modern writers show the usage of mockery or irony in purposefully crafted meaningful words. The only exception in modern-day satire is it doesn’t adopt the popular technique once designed by Pope and Dryden.
Today, satirical essence emerges more like societal. It no more unlocks the personal irony. In present circumstances, it becomes associated with the flaws and foibles of current social institutions. Because unfortunately, these foundations are the victims of absolute human eccentricity.
And that is why authors like John Galsworthy, George Bernard Shaw, T. S. Eliot, and many others never hesitated to hammer the modern institutions. They aimed to rectify and, if required, eliminate the inborn weaknesses of the modern man. So, it reflects one imminent truth that sarcasm exists even after the diminishing acceptability of satire in the present time.
One prime fact is satire appears significant when the satirist remains honest and balanced from a refined artistic point of view. If the satirist is sincere in possessing a fair observation and keen perception, his expression becomes valuable. But when his emotion overpowers intellect, his capability of meaningful ridicule fails.
There is no denying that the more satirical expression seems logical, the more it becomes appealing. In short, the power of crafting satires emerges significant when the satirist owns the urge to unlock genuine satirical passion.
An absolute irony or sarcasm is by nature purely practical. And it reached its peak during the age of romance in literature. Byron perhaps ranked as the best satirist of this age. His works still show that despite unusual combinations, his splendid poetic creations remain blended with satires.
Satire is probably the only literary arena that never promotes imagination. The abundance of wit-mingled irony and mockery are the main ingredients of it. For some, it may seem impertinent and contemptuous. But, challenging its fundamental power of uncompromising revealing of flaws of the human society is out of the question.
It is true that the search for a new tool of sarcasm indeed unfolds the diminishing acceptability of satire. But, at the same time, it is undeniable that satire can’t disappear as long humans remain the entity of bearing imperfections along with the perfections.
