Like Lear’s fool, jokers reflect our weakness

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There was a time when the only man who could insult the king and live was the jester. It was a role wherein social comment and the ability to, perhaps, prick a royal ethic back into life was possible, and necessary.

In the 21st century, we pretty much live better than the kings of old, and, when roused, can tilt at our higher rulers with startling efficiency. That is always assuming we can stop tearing at each other for more toys, or rouse ourselves from (“Which Ever Country of Domicile) Has “Talent”[?]” long enough to actually do it, of course.

And that is where the role of the new Jester comes in. The Daily Show, The 10 O’clock Show here in the UK, and, course, the subject of this small commentary, the very venerable ‘The Onion’ on the internet, all of whom serve the same role.

The trigger for this meander Deaths Of 20,000 Japanese Afford Planet Solid 15 Minutes In Which Everyone Acts Like A Human Being.

Which is, for a man like me, who likes his humor so dark, that if it were coffee Parisians and Turks would complain at its excessive strength and darkness, both humorous, and terribly, terribly salient.

We do seem to need a solid smack around the head to be reminded that we are all in the same boat. Mother Nature does that well. However, and this is also the fault of that parent, in the same way we tend to forget our own pain once it’s out of sight, we get distracted from, or tired of, the pain of others. Then the jester has to remind us with a slap-stick, and a little pantomime to sell the joke, that it’s still a rolling problem and not solved in 90 minutes and ends with a laugh, a homily on what we learned today, and a fade to credits.

I know I’m as guilty of this particular vice as well as the next man.

Whether this reaction is a defense against emotional overload, or the inherent problem of an ever more cosseted and neotenous society remains to be seen. I’d like to believe the former, but fear it’s really the latter. Either results in a tendency to party at the end of the world.

So, the humorous reminder that we only all act as humans when we see something horrendous is a good way to “catch the conscience of the king.”

And if I were a better person, I’d manage to hold that thought for more than two days, but, like the rest of the chromosomally impaired apes on this pretty little blue-green world, I’ll go back to business as usual, and try to pretend what I do means “something.”

 
 

About Post Author

Hrothgir O Domhnaill

Hrothgir Ó Dómhnaill was born in England in the mid-1960s. He spent most of a chequered career in companies undergoing massive change, and specialised in the resolution of problems too dirty, too ugly, too dangerous, or just plain impossible, all with plausible deniabilty by his management if he failed. He never did. Now, having cleared his mortgage, he lives happily with his wife, elderly cat, and his first pet, a tortoise called Frederick, in the North West of England, pontificates on all manner of things, and generally feels lucky he's not dead.
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13 years ago

All of us jokers walk a fine line, or rather, the razor’s edge.

Carol Bell
13 years ago

When Holte and I talked I told him I didn’t have the time comment, but sometimes you have to make time. This is a lovely piece and one that should be shared with everyone. Thanks so much for this delight Mr. Hrothgir O Domhnaill 🙂

Michael John Scott
13 years ago

It is true that most of us in this part of the world have lives that are occupied by so many things, which may or may not be important, but when I watch the horror unfold in Japan, and other places around the world, I also experience that sense of helplessness. It is about life yesterday and death tomorrow. Thanks for a great read.

Junebug
13 years ago

Most of us in the pampered West have busy lives, responsibilities and many things to distract us, we are so spoiled. I agree with you, seeing tragedy on TV, watching it for 10 minutes, and then moving on with our lives leaves a feeling of helplessness and apart from giving money, what can we do?

GaryCrant
13 years ago

Very interesting article, you understand the human condition which takes some doing.

BigHarryH
13 years ago

Man, this guy with unpronounceable name sure knows how to string a sentence together. Look forward to more. My attention span is pretty good for stuff like this.

13 years ago

Becoming involved in the pain of strangers has to be fleeting, the world is full of pain, even on our own doorsteps, our happiness, which is also fleeting, must take center stage occasionally. Of, course there are people who are totally unaware of the suffering of others, but that’s another story.

13 years ago

Very astute observation, sir.

“We tend to forget our own pain once it’s out of sight, we get distracted from, or tired of, the pain of others.”

And we must. This is how we survive. We are blending in with our environment to avoid predators. The hunter that could destroy us is a nod to the reality of many horrific aspects of the human condition, and to our personal conditions. There are a lot of bad things and a lot of good things in the world and both are real. If we embrace the good, or in its absence, the pain of others, we can bear the rest; and really, the pain of others is not so bad and is occasionally funny.

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