Critically
analyse An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot as a Horatian satire.
Satire
and its types:
Within the general definition of satire, there
are three main classifications of different types of satire. The first two of
these are named after ancient Roman satirists—Horace (first century BCE) and
Juvenal (late first century BCE to early second century AD)—while the third is
named after the ancient Greek parodist Menippus (third century BCE).
§
Horatian: Horace playfully mocked the societal norms
of his day, and the satire named after him is clever, yet gentle. Rather than
attacking evils, Horatian satire ridicules universal human folly so that the
reader might identify with what is being critiqued and laugh at him/herself as
well as at society.
§
Juvenalian: Unlike Horace, Juvenal attacked public
officials and governmental organizations through his satires. He regarded their
opinions not just as wrong, but instead as evil. Juvenalian satire thus is more
contemptuous and abrasive, and uses strong irony and sarcasm. Polarized
political satire is often of this nature, and aims to provoke change.
Juvenalian satire is not often as humorous.
§
Menippean: Menippean satire criticizes mental attitudes
rather than societal norms or specific individuals. This type of satire often
ridicules single-minded people, such as bigots, misers, braggarts, and so on.
Pope’s An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot as a Horatian
satire:
The Augustan Age saw an explosive rise in literary production, and
due to the influence of Enlightenment thought, the works
often focused on social and political matters. Some works commented
on general flaws of the human condition while others critiqued certain
individuals and specific policies. Needless to say, the mode of satire was one
of the most popular literary modes, of which Alexander Pope was a master. His
satire showcased his devastating wit and like Horace he always used it to
comment on, criticize and expose the vices and follies of the society
of his time. While his works are satirical, they also offer a corrective vision
as we find in Horace......................................................................................
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