Page:Satire in the Victorian novel (IA satireinvictoria00russrich).pdf/48



"The only source of the true Ridiculous (as it appears to me) is affectation. * * * Now affectation proceeds from one of these two causes, vanity or hypocrisy; for as vanity puts us on affecting false characters, in order to purchase applause; so hypocrisy sets us on an endeavour to avoid censure, by concealing our vices under an appearance of their opposite virtues. * * *

"From the discovery of this affectation arises the Ridiculous; men understood the Ridiculous the best, hath chiefly used the hypocritical affectation."
 * * * I might observe, that our Ben Jonson, who of all

He remarks that this is more amusing than vanity, from the sharper contrast with reality, and adds:

"Now, from affectation only, the misfortunes and calamities of life, or the imperfections of nature, may become the objects of ridicule. * * *

"The poet carries this very far:

'None are for being what they are in fault, But for not being what they would be thought.'"

He concludes:

"Great vices are the proper objects of our detestation, smaller faults of our pity; but affectation appears to me the only true source of the Ridiculous."

Fielding's comment on Jonson is in turn applied to him by a modern critic:

"All Fielding's evil characters, it may be remarked, are accomplished hypocrites; on pure vanity or silliness he spends very few of his shafts."

what they are not in themselves:"]
 * [Footnote: name of satire is formidable to those persons, who would appear to the world