... Johnson presents the rural/urban antithesis with a generally unrecognized, ironic complexity. The extent to which Juvenal's 'Satire III' portrays the country ironically is a contentious topic. Lascelles believes that where Umbritius urges Juvenal to come with him, 'ironic overtones can be heard',3 she continues that the town ... Thales' vision becomes evident over the course of Johnson's poem and is exemplified by his uncertainty over what he is setting out for. It is noteworthy that the speaker, initially praises 'the hermit' (l. 1). He therefore suggests that Thale's is ...

• Word Count: 2578
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate