A perfect embodiment of this theme is Sir Joseph. He is also of a higher social class and sings a song to the crewmates about how anyone can become the leader of the Queen’s navy if they just never go to sea and always stay at their desk. This statement by Sir Joseph emphasizes how the upper classes were unaware of or did not understand the systemic problems that prevented those of lower classes from being able to rise through the social class hierarchy. Sir Joseph was a satirical version of what a political elite of the time would have been. He seemed somewhat unqualified for his position and like he had almost just fallen into it without doing any real work. He was high up in the navy despite never going to sea, which affirms how the upper classes at the time would rely on other people to do work for them. Gilbert and Sullivan were able to poke fun at these figures through the childish and goofy figure of Sir Joseph. At the same time, they were able to comment on the authority of the upper class and even degrade them in a way through the use of Sir Joseph.