Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Ernest is chalk
full of quick witted fast paced humor. Whether it’s tall aunts, cutting down
marriage, or satirically critiquing high society, Oscar Wilde brings his humor
A game. Specifically the scene when Lady Bracknell recalls her poor friend Lady
Harbury. After her late husbands passing, Lady Bracknell claims that Lady
Harbury looks twenty years younger and that her hair has turned gold with
grief. The idea that the death of a husband could induce such a pleasant change
in disposition spoken with the stone faced demeanor of the mournful, creates a
sharp commentary on marriage that is still relevant and funny today.
As for todays humor there are plenty of quick-witted movies,
shows, and books that induce laughter. One of my favorite examples of humor is
David Sedaris’s book Me Talk Pretty One Day. The narrative from which
the book gets its name is from David’s time spent in France learning French
from a Hellish French teacher. Mr. Sedaris’s aspiration’s to learn the language
of love are challenged by a hostile learning environment that produces one of
the most laugh inducing paragraphs in the book. Sounding like someone confined
to a labor camp, one of Sedaris’s fellow classmates gives a heart felt speech in
broken French that is terribly laughable. As for the rest of the book, I
strongly recommend it to anyone who has a funny bone and a few hours of free
time.
No comments:
Post a Comment