Not very funny after all

Blake Ogden
After first reading the chapter of Emma, I had trouble finding humor in the situation. The circumstances followed the ideas of Hobbes in what creates a humorous situation. Emma observes and mocks “the imperfections of other men,” who happens to be Ms. Bates in this circumstance. I also follow Hobbes and believe that this may be a “sign of pusillanimity.” However, I disagree with Hobbes’s statement that this is what creates “those grimaces called laughter.” I was unable to find humor in the situation much less laugh. Instead, I felt pity for Ms. Bates and anger towards Emma. Even in the end of the story when Emma is reprimanded, I wonder if it is out of regret that Emma tears up or was it the fact that she was reprimanded and her perfect image she had created of herself was hurt that caused her tears. As Freud says, “unfavorable conditions” arise that disallow me to see the humor presented. My feelings of humor are outweighed by sympathy and fury. Mr. Knightly notes that had Ms. Bates been of somewhat equal standing then the joke may have been appropriate. I agree with Knightly’s approach to the situation. Had the remark been directed towards someone being loud and overbearing humor may have emerged, but instead, Emma viscously attacks poor defenseless Ms. Bates who already seems to have trouble fitting in. Emma should have simply punched a baby and laughed. We may have found more humor in this situation because we do not know the baby and we can detach ourselves from it. Instead, Emma attacks the weakest person there, and I am unable to separate myself from this fact. I am unable to separate myself from the idea that Ms. Bates has done nothing wrong except try to fit in. She is obviously not as blessed as Emma and though she has done nothing wrong to her, Emma still mocks her. Had Ms. Bates retaliated Emma’s remark with an equally witty remark the situation may have been humorous, but unfortunately this did not happen and rather than being humorous the circumstances create a heartbreaking and tragic sight. To me the situation moved from joking to the simple mockery Hobbes describes, and while there humor can be found by laughing at the expense of others I find very little in the piteous case of Ms. Bates.