Hearty heartache; pleasure to pain 14:13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief
A poignant observation using an unusually formed contrast. The story is told of a man complaining to his doctor of depression. He is taken to the window, and directed to a circus in the distance. It is recommended, especially the clowns and one very funny one in particular. ‘Go see that clown. I guarantee your depression will disappear!’ The punchline comes when the patient says ‘I am that clown!’ Was it Joe Grimaldi or George L Fox, who suffered depression? It probably refers back to broken-hearted clown Canio in Leoncavallo’s 19th Century opera I Pagliacci. He makes audiences laugh but behind his painted smile he weeps to the point of madness because of his wife's betrayal.
You have, perhaps, been in the midst of great hilarity only to be suddenly overcome by a wave of sadness. How easily a conversation, a journey, a visit begun very happily, may end in tears. I once read of a businessman arriving home by helicopter. His young daughter ran to greet him and full of joy, he lifted her high in his arms, forgetting the still rotating helicopter blades above. On earth, happiness and sadness live cheek by jowl. Think of winners and losers in a football match. A bus crashes at Christmas, a man dies on holiday, a mother dies in childbirth. Shakespeare was aware of this. His tragedies always have comic interludes. His comedies often have a silvery undertone of sadness. Successful modern comedy writers are similar. The best always include a moment of pathos. American series MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital), with its Korean War backdrop, is an extreme example. British series Black Adder is another. It ends most soberly, with soldiers marching to their deaths.
Lessons? Avoid superficiality. There is such a thing as insincere, hollow laughter. Do not be fooled. Be sensitive. Think of is happening inwardly even though outwardly all seems well. Finally, a warning. You can laugh at death one moment and be in hell the next.
A poignant observation using an unusually formed contrast. The story is told of a man complaining to his doctor of depression. He is taken to the window, and directed to a circus in the distance. It is recommended, especially the clowns and one very funny one in particular. ‘Go see that clown. I guarantee your depression will disappear!’ The punchline comes when the patient says ‘I am that clown!’ Was it Joe Grimaldi or George L Fox, who suffered depression? It probably refers back to broken-hearted clown Canio in Leoncavallo’s 19th Century opera I Pagliacci. He makes audiences laugh but behind his painted smile he weeps to the point of madness because of his wife's betrayal.
You have, perhaps, been in the midst of great hilarity only to be suddenly overcome by a wave of sadness. How easily a conversation, a journey, a visit begun very happily, may end in tears. I once read of a businessman arriving home by helicopter. His young daughter ran to greet him and full of joy, he lifted her high in his arms, forgetting the still rotating helicopter blades above. On earth, happiness and sadness live cheek by jowl. Think of winners and losers in a football match. A bus crashes at Christmas, a man dies on holiday, a mother dies in childbirth. Shakespeare was aware of this. His tragedies always have comic interludes. His comedies often have a silvery undertone of sadness. Successful modern comedy writers are similar. The best always include a moment of pathos. American series MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital), with its Korean War backdrop, is an extreme example. British series Black Adder is another. It ends most soberly, with soldiers marching to their deaths.
Lessons? Avoid superficiality. There is such a thing as insincere, hollow laughter. Do not be fooled. Be sensitive. Think of is happening inwardly even though outwardly all seems well. Finally, a warning. You can laugh at death one moment and be in hell the next.
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