Discuss the element of humour and absurdity in “The Bear”.

Discuss the element of humour and absurdity in “The Bear”. 

 

When we go through the play "The Bear”, we find that it is a farce. A farce is full of many absurd situations which make the readers laugh. There are three main characters in the play and they all make us laugh with their absurd comments. There are also many absurd situations. When the play starts, we see that Luka is advising Popova to leave her mourning and go out to see her neighbours. However, his way of advising her is very absurd. He gives the examples of cats, midges and spiders. We simply laugh at these examples. Popova looks at the photograph of her husband and calls him a ‘bad child’. The word ‘bad child’ makes us laugh.
When Popova refuses to give Smirnov the money, he says, “I have not the pleasure of being either your husband or your fiance, so please don’t make scenes." These remarks are very funny and absurd and we laugh at them. When Popova accepts the challenge of duel from Smirnov, he says that he will bring her down like a chicken. The word ‘chicken’ is very funny.
We find the most comic and absurd situation in the play when Popova brings her husband’s revolvers and asks Smirnov to teach her how to fire. This is very absurd that she asks her enemy to teach her how to fire. It is also very absurd that Smirnov starts teaching her. What a funny and absurd situation it is! He not only teaches her how to fire, but he also tells her the prices of different revolvers. Another situation is very funny when Popova changes her mind repeatedly. At one time, she asks him to leave and at another asks him to stay.
The speaker is not scared of death at all and seems to accept it.
Emily has beautifully described the approaching of death who is good-natured and civilized. The poem can be real as an expression of the poetess fear of death. Every person, whether religious or not, always desires to live longer keeping death at distance as long as possible. With the approach of old age, one feels fear of approaching of death. Drive in the coach and immortality are also elements of basic fear. As the setting sun loses its light, in the same way, a young man loses his strength in old age and finally reaches the grave. The description of setting sun, the grave and journey all fill our hearts with fear. Fear hovers on us from the very beginning of the poem till end.