Truth and the comedic art / Michael Gelven.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gelven, Michael.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Comedy--History and criticism.

Comedy.

European drama (Comedy)--History and criticism.

European drama (Comedy).

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. As you like it.

Shakespeare, William.

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791. Nozze di Figaro.

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus.

Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900. Ideal husband.

Wilde, Oscar.

Physical Description:

vii, 172 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Albany, NY : State University of New York Press, [2000]

Summary:

Traditional philosophy places a singular emphasis on tragedy, acting under the assumption that tragedy is more profound than comedy. Gelven argues that comedy deserves equal if not greater attention from philosophy. Through the interpretative readings and concrete analysis of three classical works, Gelven shows that comedy provides an access to truth unavailable by any other means. Silvius in Shakespeares's As You Like It, Cherubino in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, and Lord Goring in Wilde's An Ideal Husband are examined in terms of why and how they are comic, along with how and why they are seen both as fools and yet as graced. Gelven finds that in revealing the spirit of graced folly, comedy teaches us about our own essence, the fundamental nature of our finitude. This will undoubtedly be of considerable importance not only to philosophical aestheticians or literary critics, but also for those seeking to understand the nature of truth itself.

Contents:

I Comic Laughter 1

II Silvius 11

III Cherubino 21

IV Lord Goring 35

V Folly 49

VI Grace 63

VII Performance 87

VIII Truth in Art 99

IX Celebration 117

X Fun 133.

Notes:

Includes index.

ISBN:

0791446638

0791446646

OCLC:

42842465