Irony and Earnestness in Eighteenth-Century Literature: Dimensions of Satire and Solemnity

In the eighteenth century, serious writers were often exceptional satirists, using ruses, tricks, and deceptions to advance literary aims. Shane Herron argues that intense earnestness was a central component of the ironic sensibility of the great age of literary satire.

Format: Hardback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 27 January 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The conventional literary history of the eighteenth century suggests that a clash existed between the conservative and ironic sensibility of an earlier generation of satirists and the emerging novelists and other intensely serious writers. However, a closer examination reveals that many of these ostensibly earnest writers were exceptional satirists in their own right, employing the same ruses, tricks, and deceptions throughout their work. Take, for instance, the novels of canonical figures such as Behn and Defoe, which were presented as authentic documents, akin to the earlier generation of hack writers who seamlessly merged the serious and the absurd.

In his insightful re-examination of this interplay between the ludicrous and the solemn, Shane Herron argues that intense earnestness played a central role in the ironic sensibility of the great age of literary satire, and indeed, in the work of Swift himself. The sensationalism and confessionalism of earnestness were often employed tendentiously, while ironic and satirical literature frequently incorporated genuine moments of earnestness to serve writerly purposes.

This complex relationship between earnestness and satire highlights the nuanced and multifaceted nature of eighteenth-century literature. It reminds us that satire is not solely a matter of wit and humor, but also of deeper social and cultural commentary. By exploring the boundaries between the serious and the absurd, satirists were able to challenge the prevailing norms and values of their time, and in doing so, contribute to the development of literary and intellectual traditions that continue to resonate today.

Weight: 508g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108834438
Edition number: New ed