Satire and Social Criticism

The Enlightenment is a period in storey that was characterized by diversity of advances in philosophy, science and medicine. The important theme of the instillment was the tenet that slew of the initiation could actually make an effort to create a better globe. In the process, the philosophers embraced different figurative tools to enlighten the people, and among these, banter stood out. Satire especially take for granted the solve of bitter, harsh criticism to hypocrisies, in providedices and inhumane practices that characterized the nightclub at the time.Candide by French philosopher Voltaire is a bizarrely humorous rehearsal chronicling the adventures of a young man throughout the world, muchover the aspect that has made it generate so oftentimes interest is how it satirically challenges the social norms and optimism that characterized the age. First, Voltaire pokes fun at the noble family by naming the barony Thunder-ten-tronckh, a silly set of words aimed at cont end the pride the barons family clear in their noble heritage. Voltaire is challenging natural superiority assumed by aristocrats.For example, the barons sister, in spite of organism the mother of Candide, refused to marry his father merely because he had 71 noble lineages while she had 72 (Voltaire, 2008). The badinage here manages to make the concern nobles had over lesser people look primitively absurd. Dr. Panglos (the name translates to all-tongue) belonged to the metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-nigology schooltime of thought. He often taught the young Candide the principles of his doctrine which upheld the belief that all things were created with a plan, which is ultimately the best purpose (Voltaire, 2008).Voltaire uses Pangloss to parody the philosophers of the 17th century and before who debated topics of no benefit to humanity. Voltaire most likely felt that the communicative acrobatics of these thinkers were so ridiculous and critics of this tale observe that he was l ampooning the philosophies of Leibniz. Leibniz believed that a pre-meditated harmony existed in the world and that the world must be the best take aim ever since a perfect God had created it. Voltaire, on the other hand, is an opponent of this blind optimism on aim of the tragedies that afflict mankind.He uses the difficulties Candide has to endure and the Lisbon quake which claimed over 75 percent of the city despite a ritual which involved burning nearly people in a slow give the bounce in order to prevent catastrophes like these having been conducted. The tragedies that Candide suffers in the hands of the Bulgarian army underline the severity and suffering that existed within armies. Noblemen started war, and it was the common men constituent in the battlefields that bore the full brunt of conflicts (Voltaire, 2008).While the people are suffering, clergymen hypocritically squabble over sacred doctrines and worry more about converting people into their trustingness instea d of tackling the wars, famines and oppression which plague the society. M either satirists have developed a sense of satire that is more or less in line with the stances Voltaire pick out in his effort to reform the society. I spot to analyze the insouciant Show hosted by Jon Stewart since 1999. Jon Stewart applies satire to address the social, policy-making, and economical issues facing the American society in the present time.Among his themes are semipolitical allowance account and the extent to which current events affect the youth non only in America but also in the whole world (The workaday Show, 2007). The Daily Show has aired every Monday to Thursday since July 1996 on Comedy Central and hosts a variety of political and celebrity figures with the aim of getting their opinion on current socio-political issues affecting the American society. Watching an sequel of the Daily Show, I visualized Jon Stewart wanting his earshot to approach current issues with pragmatism. I watched the episode in which he hosted 2008 re unexclusivean presidential candidate illusion McCain. McCain, as part of his presidential campaigns, had announced that he would make an mien at Liberty establishment, an institution founded by Jerry Falwell who McCain had earlier denounced as an agent of bigotry (The Daily Show, 2007). Stewart rightfully identified the hypocrisy of the appearance knowing that it was in direct opposition of the principles McCain so often preached. It was an attempt to just secure votes against the value the candidate had preached all along.Jon Stewarts show assumes that that any political leader should stand his ground and stay put to his or her beliefs with regard to the issues that affect the society (The Daily Show, 2007), failure to which he or she would be go into madness. Desperate attempts to win over public support in policy issues should be establish on conviction rather than on fury as stirred by those seeking political office. Stewar t wanted the society to see people for what they rightfully were, as a strategy to establishing a just system, rather than the instantaneous stances they adopt when the need arises.