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Satire And Social Mediation In Wole Soyinka’s
[A CASE STUDY OF THE TRIALS OF BROTHER JERO AND A PLAY OF GIANTS]
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Therefore, Satire is employed to mock or censor the actions of man or
his belief, it is also used to assess the state of man in his society
and to create a difference between the present situation and the ideal
situation. Satiractries to expose the abuse of a system and the actors
involved. The best satire is concerned with the nature of reality and
unlike other arts which emphasizes what appears to be real but is not.
It always pretends to be something other than what is really is.
We read satire because it gives pleasure. Some scholars have course to disagreed on the kind of pleasure.
It
give us.Some critics suggest that the pleasure is a moral one. Just as
one would agree with the former opinion, it is important to say that
satire does not give us the type of pleasure fable stories gives us, on
the other hand from satirical writing we derive ethical satisfaction
because through Satire, we are able to imbibe a code of conduct which we
apply to our daily lives.
It is a fundamental and basic
fact that satire entails more than exposing societal ills and vices.
Satire is a literary response to life in the city, its basic cynicism
and especially its political nature seen to require an urban culture to
spawn and thrives.
There are other less sophisticated kinds
of verbal and literary vitrid; flyting and invective. What might be
best described as creative name calling, occur almost universally but
satire proper derives from a periodic association between literature and
the hypocricy of civil behaviour. While the term itself has its
etymological roots in the Latin Satura meaning a full or mixed dish in
the sense of a cacophonous variety, the Greeks had rich satiric
tradition especially evident in the Athenian old comedy which played
scatologically with the pretentious behaviour of particular contemporary
citizens recognizable to the Audience. Aristophanes Lampoons on
Socrates and Euripides are prominent examples. The great Roman poet
Horace and Juveral set the literary standards for European satire, their
best work being much imitated models even well into the 20th century.
They also lend their names to the two essential types of satire which
are the Horatian who is the gentler kind, which exposes human folly to
correct it and thus strengthens the social fabric and Juvenalian is
harsh, even abusive and sees little chance of social progress. Horace
and Juvenal use language that is colloquial and contemporary people and
current issues.
These remain the distinguishing elements of
Satire which is colloquial and contemporary, immediate and recognizably
real in style and subject.
In a peculiar way satire’s
generic qualities and social motives are very close to those of the
essay. The satirist, like the essaylist is intensely aware of his or her
subjectivity and attempts to engage the readers on a personal and even
conversational level. In both genres, the dominant impression is one of
immediacy of a face to face exchange in which opinion and interpretation
take procedure over fact and objectivity. The attitude is casual,
however changed with message.
Satire is a genre of
literature. According to the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (1993),
Satire can be inform of a poem, prose or composition. In which
prevailing vices or follies are held up to ridicule.
A
thing, fact or circumstance that has the effect of making some person or
thing ridiculous. Satire is employed, to mock or censure the action of
man or institution in the society.
Also, the Encyclopedia
American (1829) defines satire as both a specific literary genre and
literary manner. As a genre it has reference to poetic form originated
in the 2nd century by Roman Satirist Lacillius. It was practiced with
distinction by his successor Horace, Persius and Juvenal.
As a literary manner, the follies, vices and crimes of a person or an
institution are held up to ridiculous or scorn with the intention of
correcting them.
From the above definitions, we can say
that satire is every expression that makes fun of an institution or an
individual by drawing the attention of the people to their vices with
the aim of making amendments. Satire is a major tool in bringing about
societal transformation.
Satire originates from ‘Satura’ a
Latin word which means ‘medley’ or ‘mixtured’ – satirical usages have
being part of the folk culture since the early communities. It featured
in the Greek Culture as it was specifically located within a Grecian
fertility rite. The first satirist was Acholochus. He was said to have
been so savage that his target one Lycambas and his daughter hanged
themselves.
Furthermore, the remain rhetorician
Quintillians established Satire as a ‘Roman Phenomenon’. He claims
“Satire is our own in his words “Satura totanoshraest-Qumâ€. By these, he
was referring to lucillus poetic practice who was a contemporary of his
works had a considerable influence on Horace one of the keg figures in
the development of satire persius was influenced by Horace.
To Horace satire is urbane, the satirist smiles at the foibles of his
fellow men without indignation. Juvenal satire is harsh. The satirist is
an enraged moralist. Who denounces the vices and corruption of his
fellowmen. Satire here is bitter and commading.
The
pre-independent African society had satire in its arts- A typical
example is the poetry of the Yorubas called “Ewiâ€-The Elewi, satirist
ridicule people and institutions. Element of satire can be seen in their
proverbs, riddles and jokes. After independence. However, Satire
assumed a different phrase in the Contemporary African society. It
became very popular as it is being used to attack theme of
neo-colonialism, corruption, hypocrisy, ignorance and administration and
other vices. Narrowing it down to Nigeria, we have a lot of artist who
are satirist in their writings. Such writers are Wole Soyinka, Chinua
Achebe. In his A man of the people Ken Sarowiwa Prisoners of Jebs, Olu
Obafemi in the, The New Dawn Ola Rotimi etc.
According to
IRF Gordan (1976) Horace’s approach to Satire is the one that tells the
truth better with laughter while Juvenal states that their anger make
him to write satire.
In the 17th century satire marked the
highest point in English literature through the works of Dryden,
Alaxander Pope, Jonathan Swift etc. They attack materialism, hypocrisy,
pride, cruelty and political experience in the works.
From
the Horatian or Juvenalism concept of satire as a sting that is deep and
sharp and thus, it produces result; transformation. In the 19th century
we talk about other satirist as Jane Austen, Thomas Peacock, Samuel
Butter, Bettoit Brecht etc.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This research endeavour focuses on the social and political ills prevalent in the African societies with the view of correcting them thus, making the contemporary society a better place to live. Using two texts from renowned Nigeria writer, we see the economic, social and political evils which morally degrade our society and the community at last. These evils are being satirized to bring about transformation. Here, the sociological approach is employed. The quota sampling system is use in this r ... Continue reading---
