How Does 'Decline And Fall' Critique Society?

'Decline and Fall' is a razor-sharp satire that dissects the absurdities of British society between the wars. Evelyn Waugh targets everything from the education system to the upper class, revealing their hypocrisy and incompetence. The protagonist, Paul Pennyfeather, is a passive observer tossed through a series of farcical misadventures—expelled from Oxford for a prank he didn’t commit, teaching at a chaotic school, and getting entangled with criminals. The novel’s genius lies in how it exposes societal flaws through dark humor.
The education system is mocked mercilessly; the school at Llanabba is a disaster, run by clueless administrators who care more about appearances than learning. The aristocracy isn’t spared either—characters like Captain Grimes embody the entitled, morally bankrupt elite who exploit systems without consequence. Even the justice system is ridiculed, as Paul ends up in prison for crimes he barely understands. Waugh’s critique isn’t just about institutions but the people who uphold them, showing a world where incompetence and greed thrive while decency is punished.

Waugh’s 'Decline and Fall' is like a scalpel slicing through the facade of 1920s Britain. It’s not just a story; it’s a mirror held up to a society drunk on its own pretensions. The upper class is portrayed as frivolous and detached—Margot Beste-Chetwynde sells her daughter’s school to a brothel owner without a second thought. The education system is a joke, with teachers more interested in drinking than teaching.
Paul’s journey from Oxford to prison highlights how easily innocence is crushed by a corrupt system. The novel’s brilliance is in its deadpan delivery—Waugh doesn’t scream his critique but lets the absurdity speak for itself. Whether it’s the farce of religion (Prendergast’s doomed career as a clergyman) or the hollow glamor of high society, every layer of society is stripped bare. The title itself is a nod to Gibbon’s 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,' suggesting Britain is on a similar path—decadent, directionless, and doomed.

The novel tears apart societal norms with a smirk. Waugh’s critique is omnipresent: the elite are shallow, institutions are broken, and morality is flexible. Paul’s expulsion from Oxford over a drunken prank he didn’t commit sets the tone—justice is arbitrary. The school at Llanabba is a microcosm of societal failure, where education is a farce and adults act like children.
Margot Beste-Chetwynde embodies aristocratic decay, treating people as disposable. Even prison, where Paul ends up, is less about rehabilitation and more about chaos. Waugh doesn’t offer solutions; he just shows the rot, making you laugh until you realize how bleak it all is.

'Decline and Fall' mocks society’s pillars with dark wit. Education? A sham. The upper class? morally bankrupt. Justice? A joke. Paul’s misadventures reveal a world where logic fails and greed wins. The school’s incompetence, Margot’s ruthlessness, and Grimes’ corruption paint a picture of systemic decay. Waugh’s humor makes the critique sting harder—you laugh, then wince at the truth underneath.