Gilbert and Sullivan first used humor to mock members of the upper classes of society. Characters of extreme social status often exhibit downright ridiculous lines such as Pooh-Bah stating, "I am, in fact, a particularly haughty and exclusive person, of pre-Adamite ancestral ancestry." You will understand this when I tell you that I can trace my ancestry back to a primordial protoplasmic atomic globule. Therefore, my family pride is something inconceivable. I can't do anything about it. I was born laughing. These aspects of society are very exaggerated, which drives home Gilbert and Sullivan's message. Second, The Mikado is very sarcastic. The characters continually sarcastically exaggerate points throughout the performance. This excerpt is a clear representation: “KATISHA: See his name here: 'Nanki-Poo beheaded this morning'. Oh, where can I find another one? Where to find another one? (KO-KO, POOH-BAH and PITTI-SING fall to their knees.)” Apart from this, the characters are very satirical of people within British society at the time of its creation. This general sarcasm further reinforces the success of the Mikado. Third, the characters are of great importance because they constitute the vital transmission of the overall satirical message. Despite the Japanese setting, the characters' behavior, speech, and attitudes are distinctly British, reflecting the restrictive social codes, smug politicians, and moral hypocrisy of Britain in the Gilbert and Sullivan era. Without the strong characterization of the Mikado, the satirical message would not be conveyed effectively. These key aspects of The Mikado further embody the dual nature of the play'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 on