A Study of Humor and Satire in Vikram Seth's Fiction

Abstract

The name of Seth shows the image of a learned person who has experience of different parts of the world. He is dexterous in both poetry and prose. The present research paper throws a light on the use of humour and satire in Vikram Seth's fictional works.

Seth is a prolific writer who sees the world in its real form. He skillfully depicts the characters through brilliant and witty conversation. They are charged with pathos, irony and humour. He is a mellow satirist but he does not use his satire to show the follies of his characters. He uses satire to make his characters realize their follies so that they can improve. He aims satire generally at social problems. Seth's satire undoubtedly emanates from his traditional outlook, and his penchant for older writer viz. Pope, Swift and of course, the Victorians. But the main canvas of the irony evinces Seth's Indian origin coupled with his originality in successfully combining tradition with modernity.

Seth creates humour by emphasizing some small insignificant details. Seth's humour predominantly the humour of situation coupled with the somewhat endearing neuroticism of the characters. A tentative definition of the humour through characterization in Seth, is that it is something we get whenever a character makes us laugh by himself or herself. A witty use of sarcasm in a narrative based on heightened passion displays Seth's unique hold on his subject. He has different shades of humour in his novels. In all his novels the characters are presented only in vignettes and as they push the story forward, Seth adds a touch of sardonic humour by inserting the authorical voice. The style is ideal, both for the medium, which demands levity and wit to keep it from sinking into a maudlin formlessness. Seth's wit is razor -  sharp and it never crosses the limitation of good taste. The use of animals such as a CAT and DOG as characters in Seth's narrative provides a chain of symbols, rising from an expression of the lower vital in man to a craving for higher and quiter satisfaction. In this way, Seth's irony and humour do not merely keep to realism in justifying a sort of ecological anxiety but also serves as a means of simplifying the experience for suitable caricature to the purpose. It adds an enriching and finishing paradigm to the realism of his portrayal of life.