The Sixteen Satires

[Satirae]
Type: 
Public: 
Tags: 
Publisher: 
Penguin
Pages: 
320
Moral assessment: 
Type: Literature
Nothing inappropriate.
Some morally inappropriate content.
Contains significant sections contrary to faith or morals.
Contains some lurid passages, or presents a general ideological framework that could confuse those without much Christian formation.
Contains several lurid passages, or presents an ideological framework that is contrary or foreign to Christian values.
Explicitly contradicts Catholic faith or morals, or is directed against the Church and its institutions.

Series of ten poems that criticize the customs, morals, and politics of Roman society at the time. With a sharp and sarcastic tone, Juvenal exposes the decadence of Rome, denouncing injustices, corruption, and hypocrisy in the upper classes, as well as the submission and lack of virtue in the lower classes.

The poet expresses deep disdain for the society around him, highlighting vices such as greed, unchecked ambition, falsehood, betrayal, and moral decay in politics and daily life. Through his satires, Juvenal not only presents a social critique but also offers a reflection on human nature and the corruption of the soul. His work is characterized by a strong condemnation of selfishness and materialism, which, according to him, dominated Roman life.

In addition to his social criticism, Juvenal uses a rich variety of literary devices, such as irony, dark humor, and exaggeration, to emphasize the impact of his observations. Juvenal's Satires are considered one of the most important works of Latin literature, providing a sharp and often brutal view of Imperial Rome.