Sarcasm, Irony, Being Sardonic.

Is it possible to identify a predisposition for using sarcasm, being sardonic, or the ability to appreciate irony, from a natal chart? Astrologers tend to point to Scorpio and Mars in particular when writing about this. Mercury has to be closely involved too, as we're considering styles of communication. I'm not a fan of sarcastic humour, it usually aims to hurt, mock or offend another person. "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit" was a warning drummed into me from an early age. Even so, it's almost impossible to stifle a guffaw at some of the satire (based on sarcasm and irony) aimed at any political or celebrity figures I happen to dislike. I have to admit, too, that I have been known to make the odd sarcastic remark.

Irony, in general, is not as deliberately hurtful as sarcasm, it has no target, it just happens. A situation can be perceived as ironic without anyone saying a word. It occurs when the exact opposite of reality is conveyed by deed or situation, or sometimes by word.

Sarcasm, sardonicism and irony are not-so-distant cousins. I like the explanation of the differences from Spindle Works Here's a brief extract:

Irony and sarcasm are not the same. An ironic word is born; a sarcastic one is made. Irony is expressed spontaneously; sarcasm can reflect upon its words. Irony sees the caricature and expresses it simply. Sarcasm sees the caricature too, and passionately reinforces it........ One is gripped by irony, but one grasps at sarcasm........Irony is the strength of the weak; sarcasm is the weakness of the strong.

And from Alpha Dictionary

Sarcasm implies a derision explicitly intended to hurt or offend someone.
Sardonicism implies a cynical derision expressed either verbally or facially with no necessary intent to offend or cause emotional distress.
Irony comes from an amusingly provocative disparity between any two seemingly incompatible things, expressed to amuse rather than to offend.

Sardonic remarks often follow ambiguous statements: “Joe is an unusual wit,” said Fred. “That’s true,” Marge remarked sardonically.”
Sarcasm hurts: “Murray’s marriage proposal received a sarcastic, ‘Ask me again if you return from the dead’ from Eloise.”
Irony comes from odd coincidences we bump into in life: “I just love the irony of Lois, the daughter of an obstetrician, marrying Ferdie, whose father is a mortician!”

I guess that one needs to have particular mental wiring to appreciate the irony in a situation. That same mental wiring may also be capable of bringing forth sarcasm, and a tendency to be sardonic.

I can see why astrologers would suspect that aspects involving edgy Scorpio and belligerent Mars might be significant factors to look for if trying to identify a tendency towards sarcasm in a natal chart. I suspect that alignments of hard-nosed Saturn with Mercury could also be involved, or any emphasis in critical Virgo. Capricorn seems to match sardonicism in particular. People with heavy Capricorn in their charts do have that very dry sense of humour, akin to sardonicism. The whole chart must be considered of course, not forgetting that background and family also play an important part. The kind of role models and teachers a person had in youth, who he/she has tried to emulate, as well as social background - these should be borne in mind along with the astrology.

Humor does not include sarcasm, invalid irony, sardonicism, innuendo, or any other form of cruelty. When these things are raised to a high point they can become wit, but unlike the French and the English, we have not been much good at wit since the days of Benjamin Franklin.
(James Thurber, USA.)

(Edited/updated version of a post from 2007)