Political and Social Satire as Reflected in Bewketu Seyum's Enqilf Ena Edmie and Berari Kiteloch
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Date
2008-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This paper examines Bewketu Seyum's satiric and comic treatment of various
social and political issues in his prose works, Enqilf ena Edmie (Sleep and Age)
and Berari Kiteloch (Winged Leaves).The author of these literary works
critically presents different issues through humorous ways. The targets of his
criticism include political leaders, scholars, taxi drivers, government
institutions, and aspects of human behavior. Thus, the study has attempted to
analyze the satiric as well as comic elements that reflect the follies, vices,
wrongdoings, and erroneous practices the author aimed at criticizing.
In this thesis, the writer has attempted to discuss the major features,
characteristics, and techniques of satire. In addition, the prominent natures of
comedy as well as the purposes of satire and comedy have been presented to
establish a theoretical framework for the analysis. Accordingly, the researcher
has made an effort to show Bewketu Seyum's utilization of satire and comedy
for the purpose of social and political criticism.
The analysis of Enqilf ena Edmie (Sleep and Age) and Berari Kiteloch (Winged
Leaves) highlights that Bewketu launches an elaborate satiric and comic
attack on many aspects of human behavior as well as the erroneous practices
of political leaders and government institutions. His social and political
criticisms against individuals, political figures and institutions have been
supported with numerous examples from the texts. This part of the study also
reveals Bewketu's interesting mix of humor and criticism as fundamental
literary devices toward a form of social or political criticism. Hence, the satiric
and comic elements Bewketu employed in these literary works reflect his
concern for the betterment of social values, political practices, and several
aspects of human behavior.
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Political and Social