Satire

In satire, some situation or person is held up for ridicule, usually with the intent to promote some change or reform in society.

In order for satire to be effective, the audience must feel that the criticism is deserved.

The object of criticism should not be a victim of circumstance or individuals, but must in some sense be responsible for its flaws. Otherwise, the criticism may engender sympathy for the target of criticism and animosity toward the critic.

The critic must maintain high ethos: the critic speaks from a position of moral/intellectual superiority. The satire will be ineffective if

The tone of the criticism may be harsh and angry (emphasizing "moral indignation," sometimes labeled "tragic satire") or laughing (emphasizing intellectual (and sometimes social) superiority, sometimes labeled "comic satire").

Satire frequently employs various figures of speech and uses of irony (where what is said is not what is meant), including hyperbole (exaggeration) and understatement (presenting as less important than warranted).

In this type of satire, a social role or attitude/behavior toward a social role is held up to ridicule.

Victim/Marginalized/Second class role: Judy Brady's essay "I Want a Wife" illustrates this approach by providing reasons she would benefit by having her own wife. Other groups or roles where people are unfairly treated work well for this type of satirical essay.

Empowered/Privileged role: In this essay, the writer might begin "I Want to Be ______________." The essay would ridicule the undeserved privilege/status received by some role or position or the abuse of power by someone or some group holding a position of power or privilege.

In this type of satire, a ridiculous solution or alternative is offered for some social problem. To be effective the ridiculous solution should

be an extension or exaggeration of current beliefs or attitudes toward the situation

be argued reasonably, suggesting a workable solution

by its exaggeration, highlight the essential flaw in current beliefs or attitudes

Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal," which suggests the poor raise their children to sell as food, illustrates this approach. For instance, an essay titled "'Till Death Do Us Part': The Christian Alternative to Divorce--Murder" might ridicule the ambivalent attitudes toward divorce in some conservative fundamentalist circles where divorce seems to be a greater "sin" than murder, theft, rape, or other crimes.