Satire in the Victorian novel

by Frances Theresa Russell

The passion one, though various it appear,

As brighten’d into hope, or dimm’d by fear.

Thus heav’n in pity wakes the friendly flame,

To urge mankind on deeds that merit fame:

But man, vain man, in folly only wise,

Rejects the manna sent him from the skies:”

The climax of this human error is perverted ambition and a snobbish idea of excellence:

“The daemon Shame paints strong the ridicule,

And whispers close, ‘the world will call you fool!’

Hence Satire’s pow’r: ’tis her corrective part