Role of Satire in the Enlightenment

During the enlightenment, speaking out against the Church or State was strictly forbidden. However, the 'philosophes' brilliantly used satire as a way to evade these rules and indirectly express their beliefs. The use of satirical writing allowed great thinkers to freely express their ideas, and without it the societal development made during the enlightenment would have been hindered. Like Voltaire, many philosophers were severely punished for speaking out against traditional beliefs and practices of the Church and State. This punishment would have continued and most likely discouraged many people from accepting and expanding on ideas of the enlightenment if it weren't for satire; a way to avoid anti-sedition laws, and educate the public. Great writers such as de Montesquieu and de Fontanelle produced witty, satirical works that indirectly spoke against common belief and informed the public of ideas of the enlightenment. These works spoke out against despotism and encouraged people to think critically and most importantly, objectively. Without forms of satire such as novels, plays, and letters, this crucial information could not have been conveyed to the public. Satire was an extremely important tool for educating the masses, one without which social progress couldn't have been as easily made. Ultimately satire was the savior of truth, and finally allowed the people of the world to be exposed the revolutionary ideas of the enlightenment.