The Spectator

Oftentimes, the most accurate portrayal of society stems from examining the everyday occurances of people within that community. For Joseph Addison, England is no exception. Throughout his diary (fictional) in The Spectator, Addison is able to use detail, repetition, and tone to characterize clearly the diarist himself as well as the society that he lives in. Giving us an insight into six days of the diarist life, the seemingly insignificant detail provided characterizes the diarist …

…of alcohol, and utter disregard for future implications of current events all contribute to the clearly sarcastic and satirical tone of the passage. Joseph Addison's passage in The Spectator is a clearly satirical statement on the diarist and on society itself. Addison employs elements of language such as detail, repetition, and tone to increase the emphasis of monotonous and empty life, and to increase the readers disgust and self awareness about such people and worlds.