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The betrayal of the satirical text

Hajdu, Péter (2013) The betrayal of the satirical text. Neohelicon, 40 (1). pp. 47-57. ISSN 0324-4652 (print), 1588-2810 (online)

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Abstract

Literary scholars use various methods to undermine and reject explicit declarations of the Roman verse satire. This paper argues that not only do these scholars develop some strategies to avoid facing uncomfortable messages, but that the satirical text also offers an opportunity to subvert its own utterances. Although the dialogic nature of literature (and language in general) always offers opportu-nities for subversive interpretations that refuse to accept the proclaimed ideas at face value, the satirical text has a special feature, since it tends to say what it says with some ambiguity. The paper calls this the betrayal of the satirical text, which through the very act of (humorous) textualization opens the gates for opposing or subverting interpretations. The second part of the paper analyses Satires 1.7 by Horace, underscoring how various implications of the poetic discourse create opportunities to undermine the proffered ideas. A text that seems to try to stabilize Roman elite identity may lead to a retracing of the boundaries between Romans and aliens, the elite and the pariahs.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: P Language and Literature / nyelvészet és irodalom > PA Classical philology / klasszika-filológia > PA20 Latin / latin filológia
P Language and Literature / nyelvészet és irodalom > PN Literature (General) / irodalom általában > PN0441 Literary History / irodalomtörténet
Depositing User: Dr Péter Hajdu
Date Deposited: 03 Jun 2013 06:59
Last Modified: 04 Apr 2023 12:51
URI: http://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/5429

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