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Paradox
Definition of Satire
Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians, are often the subject of satire, but satirists can take... read full definition
Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians, are often the subject of... read full definition
Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians... read full definition
Chapter 3 - A Caucus-Race and a Long Tale
Explanation and Analysis—The Caucus-Race:
Carroll devotes the entirety of Chapter 3 to the Dodo's Caucus-Race, which is often read as a political satire. In this Caucus-Race, animals run around in a circle until the Dodo instructs them to stop. This race is ridiculous for many reasons. First of all, its initial purpose is to dry off the animals:
“What I was going to say,” said the Dodo in an offended tone, “was, that the best thing to get us dry would be a Caucus-race.”
Here is a mismatch between words and actions, a scenario that people often complain about in politics. A caucus in politics is a meeting at which members of a political party select a leader. Carroll suggests that politicians often mislead a foolish public and satirizes the idea of a political caucus by turning it into a ridiculous scene run by animals. The animals accomplish nothing but expect prizes at the end.
What function does this satire serve? It ridicules the public's general confusion about politics and their willingness to blindly follow someone like the Dodo whose instructions don't make any sense. It also shows the mismatch between motive and outcome in politics; the Dodo wants to dry everyone off but his idea takes on a few qualities of a real race, which involves winners and prizes. Technically, when the animals finish running around, they have accomplished their original goal (of getting dry), but they still expect prizes. In order to divest himself of the responsibility to give anything but directions and orders, the Dodo declares that Alice will give everyone whatever she has in her pockets. This moment satirizes the tendency of politicians to make promises to the public, especially about subsidies and policies, while at the same time demanding impossible things (such as taxes or tithes) from the very population they promise to help.
Another example of political satire comes in Chapter 8, during the Queen's croquet game:
The players all played at once without waiting for turns, quarreling all the while, and fighting for the hedgehogs; and in a very short time the Queen was in a furious passion, and went stamping about, and shouting “Off with his head!” or “Off with her head!” about once in a minute.
Much like the caucus race, this scene satirizes political chaos. All of the animals play at the same time, fighting amongst themselves, while the Queen shouts furiously at them. She administers punishments without any evidence, preferring to simply repeat her famous line. This could be read as a powerful commentary about the impact of bad leaders on a public susceptible to chaos and confusion.
Related Themes:
Chapter 8 - The Queen's Croquet-Ground
Explanation and Analysis—The Caucus-Race:
Carroll devotes the entirety of Chapter 3 to the Dodo's Caucus-Race, which is often read as a political satire. In this Caucus-Race, animals run around in a circle until the Dodo instructs them to stop. This race is ridiculous for many reasons. First of all, its initial purpose is to dry off the animals:
“What I was going to say,” said the Dodo in an offended tone, “was, that the best thing to get us dry would be a Caucus-race.”
Here is a mismatch between words and actions, a scenario that people often complain about in politics. A caucus in politics is a meeting at which members of a political party select a leader. Carroll suggests that politicians often mislead a foolish public and satirizes the idea of a political caucus by turning it into a ridiculous scene run by animals. The animals accomplish nothing but expect prizes at the end.
What function does this satire serve? It ridicules the public's general confusion about politics and their willingness to blindly follow someone like the Dodo whose instructions don't make any sense. It also shows the mismatch between motive and outcome in politics; the Dodo wants to dry everyone off but his idea takes on a few qualities of a real race, which involves winners and prizes. Technically, when the animals finish running around, they have accomplished their original goal (of getting dry), but they still expect prizes. In order to divest himself of the responsibility to give anything but directions and orders, the Dodo declares that Alice will give everyone whatever she has in her pockets. This moment satirizes the tendency of politicians to make promises to the public, especially about subsidies and policies, while at the same time demanding impossible things (such as taxes or tithes) from the very population they promise to help.
Another example of political satire comes in Chapter 8, during the Queen's croquet game:
The players all played at once without waiting for turns, quarreling all the while, and fighting for the hedgehogs; and in a very short time the Queen was in a furious passion, and went stamping about, and shouting “Off with his head!” or “Off with her head!” about once in a minute.
Much like the caucus race, this scene satirizes political chaos. All of the animals play at the same time, fighting amongst themselves, while the Queen shouts furiously at them. She administers punishments without any evidence, preferring to simply repeat her famous line. This could be read as a powerful commentary about the impact of bad leaders on a public susceptible to chaos and confusion.
Related Themes:
