One of the most common, and appropriate, metaphors for satire is a mirror. The satirist holds the mirror up to whatever facet of society he or she is choosing to target, and points out the flaws, follies, and corruptions that exist there. As the target looks at the mirror, being constantly told of the flaws that exist on its metaphorical face, the target is driven to change, and to fix whatever is wrong with it. Satire as an instrument for societal change is very effective, and serves the purpose of exposing the blemish and changing society by exposing ill.
The toolbox of the satirist overfloweth with methods of revelation to the target. One of the most commonly used is exaggerated imitation, when the satirist adopts the character: the beliefs, the logic, and the reasoning of the target, and augments them to a level that is so extreme that the premise is dismissed at first as ridiculous, but then is realized to be alluding to the more moderate and actual folly of the target, exposing it. A Modest Proposal is nothing if not a giant exaggeration of the British's horrible treatment and oppression of the Irish. "A young healthy child well nursed is at a year old is a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food... may, at a year old, be offered in the sale to the persons of good quality and fortune... to render them plump and fat for a good table" (Swift 3). Swift suggests that the elite of the British eat the babies of the Irish lower class in order to lesson the large number of impoverished youth in the society, as well as to provide a new food source. This proposal (deemed "modest" by Swift himself) is of course only to be taken with absolute horror and disgust. But then Swift's undeniable logic comes to light, and one can recognize it as an only slightly more extreme version of the logic the British protestants use constantly to justify their exploitation of the Irish, and the realization of the terrible treatment of the Irish is exposed. "I think the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious and many... the poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own... their corn and cattle being already seized, and money a thing unknown" (Swift 6). Swift uses this excuse, of giving them material wealth and an economic boost, to justify the taking and consumption of the Irish children, while at the same time reminding the readers, the targets (the elite British class) that they have already treated the Irish like animals, that they have taken away the food and wealth from the Irish and left them with nothing without so much as a smidgen of remorse.
A tool also used by Swift is wit. This tool is basically the crafty, knife-tongued manner in which a satirist goes about his or her case. "I can think of one objection... that will possibly be raised against this proposal... that the number of people will be thereby much lessoned in the kingdom." (Swift 8). This is a great example of wit because Swift's argument is so beautifully cunning and wily. Swift takes an objection that he believes will be prominent - or at least that he 'believes' on a literal level, at a deeper level obviously he doesn't think that will be the ONLY objection - the whole eating babies thing is pretty objectionable - and retaliates to it, defending it with an air and style only achievable by the most devious and canny of authors. He goes on to say, in defense against the objection, "this I freely own, and 'twas indeed one principal design" (Swift 8). He says that he meant this aspect to be a part of the plan, and that any objections that may be raised are only facets of the plan the unintelligent reader, the target, has yet to see. He takes whatever argument can be thought of and throws it out the window before it is even presented. But it's not just how he deviously defends against this 'objection', it's that he is also mocking those that take out of consideration any arguments against their cause before they are even put into consideration, if they are at all.
Another common tool of the all-powerful satirist is plain, good old scathing mockery and sarcasm. To take an example a little more modern than 18th century Ireland, in Family Guy- Undecided Voters, Brian declares to Lois at an electoral debate "Undecided voters are the biggest idiots on the planet" (Family Guy). There really aren't that many layers to that statement. It is just a nice, straightforward mockery of undecided voters, calling them stupid. Now on its own, this is not a very effective satirical method, and instead of solving some flaw of society may result in a massive conflict between the targets and the satirist's demographic. But combined with the exaggerated showcase that comes later in the clip, of the undecided voters eating up and falling for short, simple, completely nonsensical answers. It exposes the fact that while undecided voters might not be legitimately unintelligent, but they do like the candidate they'd "like to have a beer with"(Family Guy) rather than the candidate that actually has a better platform and is a better person for the job. The straightforward mockery takes the exposed ill directly to the face of the target, without underlying layers or complicated verbal irony. It points out the ill, or at least some result or characteristic of it, and then (hopefully - assuming the satirist is at least moderately proficient) explains why, using some other method, and then allows the target to fix the ill and prove wrong the mockery.
Satire is a tool. Sure, it is a tool for entertainment; a pastime and a hobby, maybe even a job or money-maker. It even is a tool one can use to put their makeup on. But first and foremost satire is a tool, molded by other tools, for the changing of the world. It is used to point to and expose the wrongs of society and the world; it can show the folly, and can aid in the repair of the flaw and the betterment of society. The mirror the satirist holds is full of idiocy, always filled to the brim with wrong that the satirist can attack. But all the wrong is pointed out only if it can be fixed, only if the underlying intention of the satirist is to help mend. And so in that way satire exists as a tool for help, and will continue as long as there exists imbecility in society, which is as long as society is the product of humanity.
