Biologically, there is only one quality
which distinguishes us from animals: the ability to laugh. In a universe which
appears to be utterly deficient of humor, we enjoy this supreme luxury. And it
is a luxury, for unlike any other bodily process, laughter does not seem to
serve a biologically useful purpose. In a divided world, laughter is a unifying
force. Human beings oppose each other on a great many issues. Nations may
disagree about systems of government and human relations may be plagued by
ideological clans and political camps, but we all share the ability to laugh.
And laughter, in turn, depends on that most complex and subtle of all human
qualities: a sense of humor. Certain comic stereotypes have a universal appeal.
This can best be seen from the world-wide popularity of Charlie Chaplin’s early
films. As that great commentator on human affairs, Dr. Samuel Johnson, once
remarked, "men have been wise in very different modes; but they have always
laughed in the same way."
A sense of humor may take various
forms and laughter may be anything from refined tinkle( 清脆的声响)to an earth
quaking roar, but the effect is always the same. Humor helps us to maintain a
correct sense of values. It is the one quality which political
fanatics(狂热者)appear to lack. If we can see the funny side, we never make the
mistake of taking ourselves too seriously. We are always reminded that tragedy
is not really far removed from comedy, so we never get one-sided view of
things.
This is one of the chief functions of satire(讽刺)and
irony. Human pain and suffering arc so grim; we hover so often on the brink of
war; political realities are usually enough to plunge us into total despair. In
such circumstances, cartoons and satirical accounts of serious political events
redress the balance. They take the wind out of arrogant politicians who have
lost their sense of proportion. They enable us to see that many of our most
profound actions are merely comic or absurd. We laugh when a great satirist like
Swift writes about war in Gulliver’s Travels. The Lilliputians and their
neighbors attack each other because they can’t agree which end to break an egg.
We laugh because we are meant to laugh; but we are meant to weep too. It is too
powerful a weapon to be allowed to flourish.
The sense of humor
must be singled out as man’s most important quality because it is associated
with laughter. And laughter, in turn, is associated with happiness. Courage,
determination, initiative—these are qualities we share with other forms of life.
But the sense of humor is uniquely human. If happiness is one of the great goals
of life, then it is the sense of humor that provides the
key. |
