Satura Contra Utopiam: Satirical Distortions of Utopian Ideas

Utopia and satire would seem, superficially at least, to be closely related genres. They both reject present forms of human society, and they sometimes make use of similar devices (e. g., the voyage, the stranger's eye). They would seem to differ only in emphasis. Whereas the satirist focuses on criticism, the utopian writer offers an ideal alternative. The implicit social censure embedded in utopian texts, and, in a complementary way, the human ideals assumed by satirical ones, further underscore the similarities of the two genres. According to this argument, utopian writing entices its readers into accepting an ideal alternative on the basis of implicit, and often explicit, rejection of contemporary society through satire • The satirist and his readers must share certain human values and general utopian ideals regarding society, so that the satirical message may be conveyed and the distorted world depicted by satire be recognized as such.