The Forms of Satire in the Work Good Omens

Although there are reliable studies analyzing aspects of Good Omens, such as footnotes or the adaptation of the Book of Revelation, they are ultimately few. A comprehensive analysis of the entire text, including a deep analysis of its characters and symbols, has not yet been carried out. This diploma thesis primarily analyzes the adaptation of the novel and the metacommentary on the events within Revelation, which makes up most of the story. In addition, it addresses the depiction of Christian symbols, the subversion of the apocalypse genre, the archetypes of its characters, and the individual satirical elements within the text. In order to perform this type of analysis, I adopt the methodology of close reading, a literary analysis technique that focuses on the minute details of a passage or text in order to reveal any hidden deeper meaning. In the theoretical parts of this work, I present the most important parts of my sources related to satire as a literary genre, the significance of the Book of Revelation, and the typical use of footnotes, which later help me in my analytical process. In the analytical sections, I delve deeply into various elements of Good Omens, such as the adaptation and subversion of the apocalypse genre, the adaptation and subversion of the film The Omen, the state and development of its primary characters and how they influence each other’s growth, the role and evolution of the Antichrist, and finally the postmodernist use of footnotes in the novel. The results of this analysis highlight the true nature of Good Omens, namely that although it presents itself as a direct and entertaining parody of Armageddon, in fact it is a humanistic adaptation that celebrates humanity and reassures us that we are much more valuable than mere entertainment for supernatural beings.