Gilbert and Sullivan initially used humor to poke fun at members of the upper classes of society. Characters of extreme social status often feature utterly ridiculous lines such as Pooh-Bah stating, “I am, in reality, a particularly haughty and exclusive person of pre-Adamite ancestral descent. You will understand this when I tell you that I can trace my ancestry to a primordial protoplasmic atomic globule. As a result, my family pride is something inconceivable. I can't help it. I was born grinning. These aspects of society are highly exaggerated, making Gilbert and Sullivan's message heard. Secondly, The Mikado is highly sarcastic. The characters continually exaggerate points in a sarcastic manner throughout the performance. This excerpt is a clear representation of it: “KATISHA: See his name here: 'Nanki-Poo beheaded this morning'. Oh, where will I find another one? Where will I find another one? (KO-KO, POOH-BAH and PITTI-SING fall to their knees.)” Aside from this, the characters are highly satirical towards the people within British society at the time it was created. This general sarcasm further enhances the success of The Mikado. Third, characters are of great importance as they constitute the vital transmission of the overall satirical message. Despite the Japanese setting, the behavior, speech and attitudes of the characters are distinctly British, reflecting the restrictive social codes, presumptuous politicians and moral hypocrisy of Britain in Gilbert and Sullivan's time. Without The Mikado's strong characterization, the satirical message would not be conveyed effectively. These key aspects of The Mikado further embody the dual nature of the piece's humor and reflect the second half of Lord Byron's quote, "let satire be my song." The Mikado was created for entertainment, but with its hidden message