The History Boys Comedy Essay

The History Boys Essay 13. Brilliantly funny. to a greater extentover by the end, part are as near as laughter. To what extent can we fill The History sons as comedy? One of the key factors that bring ins the History Boys such(prenominal) an iconic play is its witty comedic effect throughout the entire accommodate. apply various techniques, such as parody, contrasting causas and clever juxtapositions within the plot, levelheaded metaphors, bathos and humany more than.But at first glance the history boys could bet a typical dramatic themed bind with a group of characters dependant al well-nigh entirely to a single location and a gyp period of time however looking deeper into the play you begin to encounter the comedy reveal before your eyes. Within Hectors french lesson, the juxtaposition of Hectors character immediately contrasts that of the originals as concisely as he walks in.Hectors strangeness and open-minded character contrasted with the headmasters strict a dherence to rules, regulations and formality with Hector interrupting the headmasters dialogue Mr Hector, I hope Im not. . . with the informal communicate that is an admonitory finger. The lend oneself of the admonitory there comic on the wholey reverses the power symmetry between the cardinal characters, with Hector playfully video display that he has spot in his lessons, much to the semiconsciousness of the headmaster who feels both humiliated and challenged rich to try and speak French and bind up with the students.The interrogativemaster finds worry in speaking French, having to hesitate and show non- fluency features in Pourqoui cet garcon . . . Dakin , isnt it? . . .est sans ses tro affairrs? having to switch ski binding to English with simple words trousers for lack of companionship showing low confidence which brings amusement to the boys and to the audition. The headmaster is a paper of mockery because of his unlikable character.This unlikable character is emphasised later in the book with the Headmaster use the word silliness to describe the action that Hector had made the boys take part in and then taking back what he had said, manifestation not silliness showing that he is hypocritical with what he says to the boys in order to encourage them with their studies, which he completely says to allow himself to have his school higher up in the conference tables Yes, yes. I know that, Dorothy. But I am thinking unite tables. Furthermore the fact the French ikon is allowed to go ahead in lessons demonstrates the boys and Hector are willing to cheekily challenge and mock authorization figures with their intelligence, all knowing French to a better degree than the Headmaster. The use of ma tante creates bathos for the pretend character with tante showing desperation for ideas to keep the lie going. The following questioning sa tante? by the Headmaster and Timms reply of la famille entiere as if the headmaster missed something emb arrassingly obvious adds to the comedy because the boys aggroup up with each other to vindicatoryify and ridicule the headmaster.Irwins unthought-of input of Il est commotionne, peut-etre? is another example of Bennetts clever character juxtapositions and also of use unexpected events to contrast what was being through with(p) before it, with the stage directions of the partroom falls silent argueing that the boys found it underbred and out of place for Irwin to but in. The language fall silent contrasts with the febrile and the brazen-faced posture that occurred before it, using Irwins awkwardness to budge the tone of the scene. Hector not knowing what the word means and using the interrogative comment? adds to this awkwardness.There are many important scenes throughout this book where you can feel the comedy seeping through even though some whitethorn say it shouldnt be used tour writing about certain topics, including the scene in which Hector and the Head master are discussing the matter of a manfiddling. In this scene I really agree with the question in whether the history boys is seen as a comedy as you cant help but thinking Bennet may have used some of the characters temper traits to bring a humorous feel to a dark lawsuit but not to make an audience laugh out loud necessary but instead to make them feel uncomfortable with foreign laughter. Ah think Hector once again in the book uses his chop-chop wit and intelligence to frustrate the headmaster giving a mordant response to a question the headmaster clearly wants answering and for him not to use his poetry and intelligence to get him out of a situation as he normally would do so. I have no idea. What women know or dont know has al counsellings been a mystery to me. using the word women hector tries to relate to the audience and make a remark about men and women in general, suggesting that does any man know what women do or dont know which may have been intended to make the audie nce laugh and leave them query hy Hector isnt taking this matter seriously and is instead make jokes, showing how time and having a modern audience viewing this brings shock to us as issues such as this would been taking much more seriously and probably involved police but the headmaster is more worried about how the school may come across if he has to fire Hector then the actual behaviour that he has displayed I do not want to sack you. Its so untidy. The use of historically details of a war battle is another way Bennett creates humour in the play but is also Bennet showing discharge how the boys will use their intelligence in almost all situations even put forward, using most 2300 hours our forces withdrew as metaphorical euphemisms for Dakins activities with Fiona, here bennet uses contrast in showing the not so exciting historical details with the exciting details of his own sex life. Bathos is applied when Dakin breaks off from his metaphor and uses the word tits and then cuts back into using his military jargon such as front-line troops and territory. As Dakin goes further and further into detail Scripps makes a final comment on the matter I cant take any more. teeming adds a final touch of humour to the matter as the audience can tell that Scripps is both jealous and disgusted at what he is hearing. Also highlighting the fact that he is deeply ghostly but also a teenager and the contradiction between the two of wanting to have sex and not wanting to displease immortal by doing so. The use of a historical metaphor is showing just how the boys will use anything that they can to make an intelligent joke.One of the history boys many strengths is its portrayal of the various individuals in the play. Using super contrasting personalities emphasizes the individuality and purpose of each character. One character that specifically stands out is Dakin, possibly the most socially dominant boy of the class and one of the most comical characters, helping the history boys to be seen as a comedy rather then a drama. Dakin is popular boy in his class, even in the whole school. He is, extremely witty.He is the most complicated and mysterious character throughout the play and only shows whats on the surface, he does not show his emotions but his main purpose is to use his wit and desire to entertain and amuse the people around him. Even Mrs. Lintott says that he is . Instead of being bad or dreary like normal teenagers, he plays with others and tests the people around him to create a comedic effect. We can see it through his love story. Even though he has a relationship with Fiona, a chool staff, he flirts with Irwin for he thinks that Irwin might be homosexual and would like to go out having some drink with him he might be bisexual yet, he does that just for fun, just for saying thank to Irwin, and just for answering his curiosity about Irwins way of life. There is also another funny scene later on in the play where the boys receive a piece of work from Irwin. Dakin is stiff to find he hasnt receives a good mark off his teacher which he longs to impress.Scripps comments on how his writing has changed to be like Irwins, Dakin denies it but then Posner, who has always had a crush on him, says you copy him and I know because I copy you. It shows another comedic moment in the book because it shows how Posners complete obsession with Dakin And how the other boys can just push away this behaviour as normal to them suggesting that the environment they grow up in has a lot of unusual behaviour in it.This is fundamentally a very funny book. The level of quickness of wit displayed definitely suggest that the history boys is a comedy with no doubt and that Bennets main steer was to show the lifestyle of A level adolescents making their final steps to adulthood before university with many serious and controversial subjects throughout using humour to allow these matters to be downplayed and create a fascinating and a me morable book. WORD COUNT 1499 (minus the title and question quote)