SATIRIZING BREXIT. THE COCKROACH BY IAN MCEWAN: A POSTMODERN SATIRE

Abstract

Apart from its political relevance, the phenomenon of Brexit has also wielded influence over literature, which has tackled this topic in various ways. One of the most interesting works addressing Brexit is The Cockroach, a political satire written by Ian McEwan. Its main character is Jim Sams, a cockroach which wakes up in Downing Street inhabiting the body of the British Prime Minister. This paper purports to investigate The Cockroach by focusing on two areas of interest. In the first part, light is shed on the tight connections between satire and reality. Indeed, I analyse some passages and aspects of the satire which share noticeable similarities with Brexit and its related political events, thereby adding to the satire’s amusing and engaging narration. On the other hand, the second part of the paper highlights the satiric devices the author takes advantage of in order to comment on Brexit and lampoon it. As it will be demonstrated, the satiric inventory employed in the present satire is multi-layered and encompasses rhetoric devices such as pasquinade, parody and burlesque – as well as some echoes of Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal. Combined together, the references to real events and the variety of satiric features contribute to making The Cockroach a gripping postmodern satire.