Volume 14 | Issue 5
Volume 14 | Issue 5
Volume 14 | Issue 5
Volume 14 | Issue 5
Volume 14 | Issue 5
Ben Jonson’s Epigrams (1616) stand as a significant collection in English literature, renowned for its sharp satirical wit and moral insight. As a master of the epigrammatic form, Jonson utilizes brevity, humor, and intellectual precision to critique the vices and follies of his contemporaries, while also celebrating virtues such as wisdom, friendship, and artistic integrity. This study explores how Jonson’s epigrams serve as vehicles for social commentary, dissecting human behavior and societal norms through incisive satire. Drawing on classical influences from Roman poets like Martial and Horace, Jonson transforms the traditional epigram into a means of both personal and universal critique, addressing specific individuals as well as broader societal issues. Jonson’s epigrams frequently target the vanity, hypocrisy, and moral corruption prevalent in 17th-century England, especially within the realms of literature, politics, and courtly life. Through witty and often cutting remarks, Jonson not only exposes the flaws of individuals but also challenges the cultural practices that enable such vices to thrive. His critique of the superficiality of fame, the greed of the wealthy, and the pretensions of the aristocracy reveal his deep engagement with the ethical and intellectual climate of his time.