The Praise of Folly and the Limits of Satiric Licence

Abstract

In this essay, I reconsider the proposition that Erasmus’ The Praise of Folly is a satire—an attribution of genre that has long been treated as a truism. I argue that greater attention to several key sources can adjust our understanding of both the text and its kind. The article examines the early reception of Folly’s speech; a pivotal passage in the text itself; crucial translation choices; and Erasmus’ reflections on both his creation and the nature of satire. I investigate the idea of the Praise as a satire not to quibble about generic designations but to bring into relief Erasmus’ contribution to questions of creative licence during the Renaissance; in particular, the permissible scope of social critique, or how to approach the darker side of epideixis.