Social commentary is the act of using rhetorical means to provide commentary on issues in a society. This is often done with the idea of implementing or promoting change by informing the general populace about a given problem and appealing to people's sense of justice.

What is social commentary examples?

Two examples of strong and bitter social commentary are the writings of Jonathan Swift and Martin Luther. Swift exposed and decried the appalling poverty in Ireland at the time, which was viewed as the fault of the British government. Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation against practices of the Catholic Church.

What is the purpose of social commentary in literature?

In literature, a work of social commentary is one that critiques aspects of society in order to highlight their flaws and hopefully prevent them from continuing. This can include cultural, political, or religious aspects of society.