Freud with Emma

The story of Emma and her little picnic is comprised of several comic effects. There is the awkwardness created by the presence of the Eltons, who are of the same age as the rest of the guests, but act like they are so much older. This feeling of awkwardness is intensified the by the fact that Mr. Elton and Emma were once in a relationship. This adds to the comic effect because I know I see awkward situations as being quite humurous. Even though there is a awkward feeling present, the overall mood seems to be cheerful and happy at Box Hill, for the text of the story Emma states "They had a very fine day for Box Hill; and all the other outward circumstances of arrangement, accommodation, and punctuality, were in favour of a pleasant party." In this Jane Austen presents the reader with a mood and prepares them for a comic event in the future. This goes along with Freud in the way that he says "The most favourable condition for the production of comic pleasure is a generally cheerful mood in which one is 'inclined to laugh'." Freud is meaning that for a situation to be funny or for comedy to be created the mood must be set in a positive light. This is done in Emma, and shown by the manner in which everyone attends. Unfortunately, though, everyone seperates slightly which creates less of a feeling of being together. As a result, Mr Churhchill requests everyone to create a small amount of clever remarks to lighten the mood once again. Also, this is done to create an attention toward Emma, which is quite funny to witness a group of middle age adults trying to please a teenager. The mood is cheerful and remarks are being made to please Emma, so, she is happy, until Miss Bates begins rambling on about how she is going to have a hard time only saying three stupid remarks. This is in a way setting up a situation in which a degrading, yet hilarious joke is to be made. Freud says in his article, "A similarly favourable effect os produced by an expectation of the comic, by being attuned to cominc pleasure." In this, Freud is saying an additional requirement, to the mood, for a comic effect is the set up for the comic event.
Freud's article and view on comedy is in many ways weird and difficult to understand, but when reading Emma in comparison with Freud's work many of his points make much more sense. Emma emphasizes the comic effects necessary to make a situation funny, and goes along with Freud's interpretation of comedy very well.