How did Juvenal use satire to examine Roman society?

Juvenal utilized his collection of 16 satiric poems, known as the Satires, to examine and denounce the perceived moral decay of Roman society. Writing during a period of transition from the tyranny of Domitian to the reigns of his successors, Juvenal focused on two primary themes: the corruption within the city of Rome and the inherent follies and brutalities of humanity.12

His approach involved:

• Targeting Social Vices: He attacked the misuse of wealth, the arrogance of the hereditary nobility, and the dehumanizing nature of the patronage system, where intellectuals and dependents were forced to endure calculated insults for survival.12
• Critiquing Institutions and Groups: Juvenal’s work includes a ruthless denunciation of Roman women, mockery of the influence of foreign immigrants, and criticism of the privileges afforded to professional soldiers.12
• Moral Philosophy: In his 10th Satire, he rejected common human ambitions—such as power and glory—as dangerous, instead advocating for "a sound mind in a sound body, and a brave heart".12

By employing vivid, often cruelly frank imagery and memorable epigrams, Juvenal sought to expose the hypocrisy and degradation he observed in his world.2