A satire is a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn. Satiric works can be seen in Aesop's animal fables and in Greek drama such as Aristophanies. It wasn't formally introduced as an aspect of writing until Roman poetry, though. Satires vary in severity from a simple verse to Orwell's classic assault on Communism, Animal Farm. In "Action Will Be Taken", Heinrich Böll puts forth a mild mockery of the work force.
             "Action Will Be Taken" centers on the unusual work experience of a so- called "worker". In the beginning of the short story, the narrator, who is the main character, expresses the fact that he is "inclined more to pensiveness (serious thought) and inactivity than to work". He is forced to work, though, when financial difficulties arise. On one of these occasions he applies to Wunsiedel's factory. The application includes a breakfast and several questions that focused on his work ethics. He lies on all of them, depicting himself as a hard-worker that needs to be in the-mix-of-things at all times. For several weeks he operates telephones, saying into them variations of the phrase "Action must be taken!" One day he hesitates in reciting this phrase when Mr. Wunsiedel enters the room. The boss shouts at him for not obeying the rule and than dies of a heart attack. At the funeral, the narrator realizes the job that he was born to have, a professional mourner.
             The satire becomes apparent when you observe the actions of the characters. Throughout the story there is actually only one real action, and that was unintentional. The narrator was depicted as lazy and untruthful. He is constantly attempting to find variations of the phrase, "Action will be taken!" The funny thing is that he does nothing but answer phones. Next are Mr. Broschek and Mr. Wunsiedel&apo
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