Looking at traditional Horatian satire we obviously see elements of witty banter and clever stage direction, this sarcastic yet somewhat playfal mocking is aimed (almost always) to poke fun at an existing society.
As we have learned these comedies usually have three distinct movements.
Existing Society<>Confrontation<>Reformation
and if we look at works such as "The importance of being Earnest" and "Romeo and Juliet"... perhaps "Age of Innocence as well" (Although it is less comedic.) We can patently see that the ridiculed is the existing society, and the new society is quickly appraised... and found worthy. This old society... this strict, rigid, often rude society is quickly replaced by our new and improved community, although it only last a moment.
I tend to dislike most of the plot line of these predictable tales for two specific reasons.
1. They are predictable.
2. It isn't fair to the old society.
In looking at Wilde's more famous comedy and the definition of Northrop Frye's theory of Archetypes we know that the beginning of each story or play or tale focuses around the absurdity of a law that must be broken.
I believe that Wilde is unfair in his comment on Victorian society. I enjoy the hard work that is valued by the more serious individuals... and the protection of private matters is also another matter I believe is not so wrong as one might believe.
Also I believe that any society that exists, and continues existing does so for a simple reason. Order and structure is ever so important and Wilde's quick wit, though it may be interesting, negates this order. And I am not referring to Wilde's obvious flamboyancy because that can still be accepted in the system. I am speaking of his calling of some sort of chaos and sporadic destruction of a solidified system.
But I do understand the necessity of the system, because without the society there could be no Horatian humor, and therefore no clever satire... and therefore no Wilde. Because the society that is so stiff bends to more than we believe. In fact, rather then it being the repressive device believed by many to be... it is actually a creator, this is because it yields to abnormalities... it lets them exist. And whether these abnormalities are very dark and mysterious or otherwise perky and curious they are an offspring of that which directly opposes it.
IF this existent society quickly became the reformed society we would have NO abnormalities.... the normal would quickly become the not-normal. And if their is complete acceptance (Which Wilde indicates) then there would be no exuberant personalities such as Wilde or Shelley or Hemingway. There would also be no hero's because none would be needed, and suddenly the classics would become the contemporaries and the world is an eternal cycle.
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