The Romantic and Satirist

Most every child is a natural romantic. They look at the same things as adults do, but with different eyes. They look with less comprehension, certainly, but sometimes this new perspective reveals to them what escapes from our view. In this oversimplification, the romantic has something in common with the satirist, for by it both expose the ridiculous. One example that comes instantly to mind is a scene from the movie Mrs. Miniver, where a little boy, Toby, asks his older brother if he is going to marry his girlfriend, Carol. Toby doesn't understand why his brother would hesitate. All he can see is two people in love, who are letting their own awkwardness and hesitance keep them from union.

In the same way, Jonathan Swift, famous satirist and author of Gulliver's Travels, employs this oversimplification to show how ridiculous things are. In reference to the causes of war, Gulliver says, 

"Difference in opinions has cost many millions of lives: for instance, whether flesh be bread, or bread be flesh; whether the juice of a certain berry be blood or wine; whether whistling be a vice or a virtue; whether it be better to kiss a post, or throw it into the fire; what is the best colour for a coat, whether black, white, red, or gray; and whether it should be long or short, narrow or wide, dirty or clean; with many more. Neither are any wars so furious and bloody, or of so long a continuance, as those occasioned by difference in opinion, especially if it be in things indifferent." (Source)

This is obviously oversimplifying matters, but it gets Swift's message across. By exposing the ridiculous, he prompts people to think for themselves, and wonder whether they are acting reasonably.

The romantic and the satirist both expose the ridiculous, then, both wishing to prompt another to right action, and better the world. Their further methods in this end, however, are different. The satirist makes use of humor and/or ridicule, but the romantic usually takes a much more sympathetic approach. He sets out the actions of others, and, like Toby, asks why you would choose the inferior way to the superior. But he does it in such a way that, while the satirist comes across as something of a finger-wagging, head-shaking authority, he appears to be a loving sibling, sharing his experience and knowledge. His is a more subjective approach, based as much on common sense as love and emotion.

That, in a nutshell, is the similarity and difference between the romantic and satirist. They expose the ridiculous to encourage right action among their fellows. And that is a wonderful thing.