The Mikado: The Use Of Satire In Modern Society

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Recommended: Development of satire in the 18th century

As Lady Mary Wortley Montagu once said “Satire should, like a polished razor keen, wound with a touch that’s scarcely felt or seen”. By this, Montagu addresses satire as a praise undeserved that effects its reader with sudden, sharp accuracy. Satire ultimately raises awareness and challenges the social conscience of society.
Welcome all distinguished guests. As per this year’s topic for the open forum at the University of Queensland, we will explore the role, and vast effects of satire in modern society. “Fools are my theme, let satire be my song” is a famous quote by Lord Byron relating to the role of satire in society. ‘Fools are my theme’ is referring to the common fool in a satirical text that is the target and is being mocked for the …show more content…

Gilbert and Sullivan firstly used humour to poke fun at higher-class-members of society. Characters of extreme social status often present utterly ridiculous lines like Pooh-Bah stating: “I am, in point of fact, a particularly haughty and exclusive person, of pre- Adamite ancestral descent. You will understand this when I tell you that I can trace my ancestry back to a protoplasmal primordial atomic globule. Consequently, my family pride is something inconceivable. I can't help it. I was born sneering.” These aspects of society are highly exaggerated, making Gilbert and Sullivan’s message heard. Secondly, The Mikado is highly sarcastic. Characters continually over exaggerate points in a sarcastic manner throughout the performance. This extract is a clear representation of this: “KATISHA: See here his name: ‘Nanki-Poo beheaded this morning’. Oh, where shall I find another? Where shall I find another? (KO-KO, POOH-BAH, and PITTI-SING fall to their knees.)” Aside from this, the characters are highly satirical of people within the British society in the time it was created. This overall sarcasm further enhances The Mikado’s success. Thirdly, characters are of high importance as they form the vital delivery of the overall satirical message. Despite the Japanese setting, the behaviour, speech, and attitudes of the characters are clearly British reflecting the restrictive social codes, self-important politicians and moral hypocrisy of Britain in Gilbert and Sullivan’s time. Without the strong characterisation in The Mikado, the satirical message would not be delivered effectively. These key aspects of The Mikado further embody the dual nature of the piece’s humour and reflect the second half of Lord Byron’s quote, ‘let satire be my song’. The Mikado was created for entertainment, but with its hidden message about

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