S.Y.B.A. (ENG)
SEM : 3
CCE : 5
v COMEDY
OF HUMOUR.
The
term ‘Humour’ as used by Ben Jonson is based on an ancient physiological theory
of four fluids found in the human body. It is a medical term. Humour comes from
ancient Greek physicians. Latin word humor, which means liquid It was Popular
in the beginning of 17th century. Humour means temperament or
nature.
According
to Medieval and Renaissance thinking, a person had a healthy mind and body when
their humours were balanced.
According
to ancient physics, the nature or temperament of man depends on these four
elements.
1. Blood
– fire (Heat) Makes one excessively optimistic.
2. Phlegm
– air (cold) Makes one excessively calm.
3. Choler
or yellow bile – earth (dryness) Makes one highly ill tempered.
4. Melancholy
or black bile – water (Moisture) Makes one excessively sad or pessimistic.
A
type of comedy was developed by Ben Jonson. He was also contemporary of
Shakespeare. An imbalance of one or another humour in a temperament was said to
produce four kinds of disposition. It Exhibits excessive humour in their
personality.
Characteristics
of Comedy of Humours.
1. Intense
realism.
The
characters here do not present in dreamland of romance but of real characters.
They presented real pictures of England.
2. Satiric.
Strange
behavior of their characters.
3. Trivial
subject matter of everyday life.
4. Focus
on temperament of whim.
5. Focus
on strange behavior of person’s character.
Jonsonian
type of Humours characters in plays.
1. Zeal
of the land busy (Bartholomew fair)
2. Dame
Purecraft (Bartholomew fair)
3. Wellbred
(Every man in his humour)
Works
associated with Comedy of Humours.
Every
Man in his Humour (1598) – Ben Jonson
Every
Man Out of his Humour (1599) – Ben Jonson
All
Fools (1605) – George Chapman
Volpone
(1606) – Ben Jonson
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