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Motifs
Definition of Satire
Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians, are often the subject of satire, but satirists can take... read full definition
Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians, are often the subject of... read full definition
Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians... read full definition
Act 1, Scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Gossip:
At its heart, The School for Scandal is a satirical comedy. Sheridan’s play humorously holds a mirror up to the audience, ridiculing his contemporary society’s fixation on status, wealth, hierarchy, and social posturing. In particular, this play is a satire of ridicule itself—a satire of the very act of gossip. Throughout the play, Sheridan asks his audience to consider where the line might exist between harmless fun and cruelty. The issue of whether gossip can ever be neutral is repeatedly questioned, as Sheridan explores a range of different types of rumors. For example, Mrs. Candour poking fun at Miss Vermillion and Lady Sneerwell’s self-serving manipulation of the gossip mill exist along a spectrum of severity that invites spectators to examine the instinct behind their impulse towards wit.
