Understanding humor as a tool of satire

Аннотация

When humor deployed through satire, it often sheds its playfulness and becomes a disruptive weapon that exposes societal, political, and moral issues. English literature is rich with examples where humor is not simply used for entertainment but functions as a sarcastic reflection. This paper highlights the relationship between humor and satire in English literature, particularly George Orwell’s Animal Farm, arguing that satire uses humor to both mask and amplify its critique. The goal of this paper is to understand how humor functions in a literary satirical work Animal Farm written by a British profound writer George Orwell. Keywords: satire, humor, critique. Annotatsiya. Satira orqali qo‘llanganda hazil ko‘p hollarda o‘zining komik xususiyatini yo‘qotib, ijtimoiy, siyosiy va axloqiy masalalarni fosh etuvchi qurolga aylanadi. Ingliz adabiyoti hazil faqatgina ko‘ngilochar vosita sifatida emas, balki istehzoli kuzgu sifatida ham qo‘llanadigan ko‘plab misollar bilan boy. Ushbu maqolada ingliz adabiyotidagi hazil va satira o‘rtasidagi bog‘liqlik, xususan Jorj Oruellning “Molxona” asari tahlil qilinadi. Maqola hazilning satirik asarda qanday ishlashini tushunishga qaratilgan bo‘lib, satira hazilni tanqidni ham yashirish, ham kuchaytirish uchun qo‘llashini ko‘rsatadi. Kalit so‘zlar: satira, hazil, tanqid. Аннотация. Когда юмор используется через сатиру, он часто теряет свою игривость и превращается в разрушительное оружие, обнажающее социальные, политические и нравственные проблемы. Английская литература богата примерами, где юмор используется не только для развлечения, но и как саркастическое отражение. В данной статье подчеркивается взаимосвязь юмора и сатиры в английской литературе, в частности в «Скотном дворе» Джорджа Оруэлла. Автор утверждает, что сатира использует юмор как для маскировки, так и для усиления своей критики. Цель статьи – понять, как функционирует юмор в сатирическом произведении «Скотный двор», написанном выдающимся британским писателем Джорджем Оруэллом. Ключевые слова: сатира, юмор, критика. 207 «Междисциплинарный диалог науки и общества в эпоху экологических перемен» Theoretical Background Satire is an employment of irony, wit, sarcasm, parody, burlesque and etc. in order to ridicule or critique some absurdities, human follies in a social group or individual. As McClennen (2011) noted the ability of satire is to higlight the absurdity and commonly accepted prejudices by provoking critical reflection. The plot in satiric novels neither purely made up nor purely truth; rather, it has the tense space between both. Charney stated that humor usually intended to cause ‘amusement’ (2005). While humor is intended to make people laugh, satire frequently masks serious critique beneath comic language. Satire as an multi- functional tool can be social, aggressive, and an intellectual (Simpson, 2003). It should be clearly understood that making others laugh is not the goal of satire, yet humor is a part of it which contributes to the reception of it. As once Bukowski stated “If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they will kill you” (Cherkovoski, 1991). Samuel Johnson defines satire as “A poem in which wickedness or folly is censured”. George Orwell’s satiric novel Animal Farm (1945) is a profound example of humor weaponized to critique society and expose totalitarianism. Ostensibly a simple literary work featuring talking animals, employs satirical humor to parody the revolution. Orwell’s skillfully use of anthropomorphism is both entertaining and thought provoking. The reader soon recognizez what is hidden under whimsical world and allegorical parallels to the historic reality. Indeed, no longer able to withstand humilty of master Jones, animals revolt against him led by Napoleon and Snowball. Afterwards, the animals establish a new community which turns out to be a nightmare. Napoleon, Squealer and Snowball, heads of the new community, promise prosperity and equality by renaming their farm, creating Commandments and giving motivational speeches. It is bitterly funny that animals have even their own governing philosophy called ‘Animalsm’ which is based on the revolutionary principles of Old Major. It is more funny when the Commandments are changed throughout the novella just because they don’t fit anymore the interests of Napoleon. The commandments, which were originally meant to ensure equality among all animals, are subtly changed by Squealer in order to suit the pigs' increasing power: “Four legs good, two legs bad” to “Four legs good, two legs better.” “No animal shall wear clothes” - but they wear clothes anyway. “No animal shall sleep in a bed” to “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.” “No animal shall drink alcohol” to "No animal shall drink alcohol TO EXCESS." “No animal shall kill any other animal” to “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.” “All animals are equal” to “All animals equal, but some animals are more 208 «Междисциплинарный диалог