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Introduction
What makes people laugh? Something funny, of course. But not always. One may laugh from embarrassment. Sometimes we laugh for no reason at all. This brings us to the questions “what is funny?” Most answers involve disparity or surprise. The latter is just a reaction to disparity or incongruity. But not all disparity is funny. Any violation of our sense of justice tends not to amuse us but anger us. The first specification, therefore, is that the funny disparity must be painless. People cannot laugh at what gives them a real sense of hurt.
Making the suffering unreal or trivial are two aspects of the same technique for allowing other painful events seem funny. A different technique involves making the suffering acceptable to the audience because it is deserved. Comic villains get it in the end. Their misfortunes are much more acceptable since we do not sympathize with one who gets what he deserves.
Take the case of Harpagon – the main character in “the Miser”. Since he has alienated himself from all the other characters, whatever unfortunate happens to him in the course of the play is a source of humor for the audience. As Valere says to Elise of her father in Act I, “When I speak to your father (Harpagon), there is very loittle good that comes to mind.
Analysis
The disrespect that Harpagon is shown by his servants is well-deserved. Consider the following example when he fires La Fleche;
La Fleche: Why are you dismissing me?
Harpagon: You’ve got your nerve asking me for reasons.
La Feche: Very well, I’m leaving.
Harpagon: Hold on! Are you taking anything with you?
La Fleche: What could I take from you?
In Scene 4, Elise and Cleante come upon their father talking to himself about the ten thousand gold pieces he has buried in the garden. We find it funny that the very people he should trust should also be prime objects of his suspicions.
Harpagon: Good Heavens! I nearly betrayed myself. What is it?
Cleante: Nothing, Father.
Harpagon: Have you been there a long time?
Elise: We just arrived.
Harpagon; Did you hear…
Cleante: Hear what, Father?
Harpagon: Come now…
Elise: How’s that?
Harpagon: What I just said
Cleante: No
Harpagon: Yes, you did! Yes, you did!
Elise: I beg your pardon.
When Harpagon decides to reveal his intention to marry Mariane Cleante is taken aback. The audience finds it funny for Harpagon to be impatient over his children’s reaction.
Cleante: You say that you have decided…
Harpagon: To marry Mariane
Cleante: Who? You, you?
Harpagon: Yes, me, me, me. What do you mean by that?
The audience would shake their heads, realizing how much of a skinflint Harpagon is as shown by the following:
Harpagon: this is an opportunity that calls for fast action. It is not everyday that such an advantageous situation presents itself, and if he agrees to take her without a dowry…
Valere: Without a dowry?
Harpagon: Yes, This will save me a lot of money.
Valere: But your daughter may claim that marriage is nothing to take lightly.
Harpagon: Without a dowry?
It is almost incredible that such a stern man as Harpagon can fall so easily to flattery: Consider Scene 5:
Frosine: My, my, you look exceptionally well. A veritable picture of health!
Harpagon: Who. Me?
Frosine: Never have I seen you so hale and hearty.
Harpagon: Really?
Frosine: I know some twenty five year olds who look older than you.
Harpagon: Nevertheless, Frosine, I’m still a good sixty years old.
A time comes when Harpagon has to give instructions to his houselhold for the coming party for Mariane. Since he does not treat them well, it is to be expected that they make fun of him; however, they do so in an imperceptible manner.
Harpagon: Maitre Jacques, I’ve saved you for last.
Jacques: Are you addressing me as your coachman or your cook, sir, for both jobs are mine.
Harpagon: As both.
Jacques: But which one in particular?
Harpagon: As my cook.
Jacques: Then wait, please (He removes his coachman’s coat and appears dressed as a cook.)
Serious matters such as marriage and money have been combined with humor in the play. Humor is achieved by exaggerations of harpagon’s miserliness to the point of incongruity bordering on the ridiculou8s. Stage technique also helps a lot. For example, an effective actor can hold his eyes upward in response to one of Harpagons’ weird suggestions to a servant in order to save money. “The Miser” is truly funny and down to earth. In the long run, Harpagon is satisfied with his money; the lovers are united and all’s well that ends well.
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