ABSTRACT
The satirist is not an easy man to live with. He is more than usually conscious of the follies and vices of his fellows and he cannot stop himself from showing that he is. He is in a difficult position, for he can so easily lay himself open to the charge of moral superiority or even of hypocrisy if people think that they see in him the faults he condemns in others. The reference to ‘Truth’s defence’ reminds us of the satirist as guardian of ideals. The best satire, that which is surest in tone, is that which is surest in its values. Satire is always acutely conscious of the difference between what things are and what they ought to be. The satirist is often a minority figure; he cannot, however, afford to be a declared outcast. For him to be successful his society should at least pay lip-service to the ideals he upholds.
