Comic relief

This article is about the term "comic relief". For the United Kingdom charity for the needy, see Comic Relief (charity). For the American charity for the homeless, see Comic Relief USA. For the defunct comic book retailer, see Comic Relief (retailer).

Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.

Definition

Comic relief usually means a releasing of emotional or other tension resulting from a comic episode interposed in the midst of serious or tragic elements in a drama. Comic relief often takes the form of a bumbling, wisecracking sidekick of the hero or villain in a work of fiction. A sidekick used for comic relief will usually comment on the absurdity of the hero's situation and make comments that would be inappropriate for a character who is to be taken seriously. Other characters may use comic relief as a means to irritate others or keep themselves confident.

Use

Sometimes comic relief characters will appear in fiction that is comic. This generally occurs when the work enters a dramatic moment, but the character continues to be comical regardless. Greek tragedy does not allow any comic relief.^[1] Even the Elizabethan critic Sidney following Horace’s Ars Poetica pleaded for the exclusion of comic elements from a tragic drama. But in the Renaissance England Marlowe among the University Wits introduced comic relief through the presentation of crude scenes in Doctor Faustus following the native tradition of Interlude which was usually introduced between two tragic plays. In fact, in the classical tradition the mingling of the tragic and the comic was not allowed.

Examples

William Shakespeare deviated from the classical tradition and used comic relief in Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and Romeo and Juliet. The Porter scene in Macbeth,^[2] the grave-digger scene in Hamlet and the gulling of Roderigo provide immense comic relief. The mockery of the fool in King Lear may also be regarded as a comic relief.^[3]

In popular culture the character of C-3PO, featured in all six Star Wars films, is also considered to be used as comic relief. He is often found criticizing the desperate situation the other characters find themselves in.

In Les Misérables, the song "Master of the House" relieves much of the sadness shown before it in the musical.

In Gone With the Wind, after Scarlett has a fight with Ashley, she throws a dish at the wall. Rhett Butler sits up from his lying position on the couch, where, unknown to Scarlett, he was eavesdropping. He looks at the shattered dish and asks if the war has started.

References

1. ^ Rutherford, Sam. "Greek Tragedy and English Tragedy". http://en.allexperts.com/q/European-History-670/Greek-Tragedy-English-Tragedy.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-17. 
2. ^ Tromly, Frederic B. (Spring, 1975). "Macbeth and His Porter". Shakespeare Quarterly (Folger Shakespeare Library) 26 (2): 151–156. doi:10.2307/2869244. JSTOR 2869244. 
3. ^ Draudt, Manfred (2002). "The Comedy of Hamlet". Atlantis 24 (2): 85–107. ISSN 0210-6124. http://www.atlantisjournal.org/Papers/24_1/draudt.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-06.