Question

Why was satire such a potent literary technique in the Enlightenment? Which Enlightenment writers employed this technique? Your answer should be at least one hundred words.

Answer 1

1- Satire is a literary genre that uses sarcasm, humor, irony, and other similar devices to denounce, expose ignorance and vices, ridiculing individuals and groups at fault for societies' shortcomings, often with the intent of bringing awareness for improvement. The enlightenment, or Age of Reason, was a literary movement that advocated for rationality and reasonable behavior. Because of the rise and growth of politics during the era, Satire went through a revival as it was the weapon of choice used to deal with everything that was considered to be wrong during the era.

2- Among the most known satirists of the Enlightenment were Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope, who created the Scriblerus Club. Other members of this club were John Arbuthnot, John Gay,  Thomas Parnell and Henry St. John. This informal association of authors gathered and created the persona of Martinus Scriblerus, whom they used to satirize the absurd excesses of the erudite.