1. Laughter is the Wild Body's song of triumph. 2. Laughter is the climax in the tragedy of seeing, hearing and smelling self-consciously. 3. Laughter is the bark of delight of a gregarious animal at the proximity of its kind. 4. Laughter is an independent, tremendously important, and lurid emotion. 5. Laughter is the representative of Tragedy, when Tragedy is away. 6. Laughter is the emotion of tragic delight. 7. Laughter is the female of Tragedy. 8. Laughter is the strong elastic fish, caught in Styx, springing and flapping about until it dies. 9. Laughter is the sudden handshake of mystic violence and the anarchist. 10. Laughter is the mind sneezing. 11. Laughter is the one obvious commotion that is not complex, or in expression dynamic. 12. Laughter does not progress. It is primitive, hard and unchangeable.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Laughter is presented as a primal, complex emotion that contrasts with and complements tragedy, reflecting human social and physical nature.
- In plain terms
- Laughter is a deep, natural emotion linked to survival and social bonding, often contrasting with serious feelings.
- What can you take from it?
- Laughter is a fundamental, unchangeable human expression that serves as a release or counterpoint to tragedy.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does laughter function as a response to tragedy?
- Is laughter truly primitive and unchangeable?
Another view
The metaphors used are abstract and may not align with scientific understandings of laughter.
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