Monty Python and the Holy Grail is without a doubt an absurd film. Showing it to someone for the first time is almost a religious experience. Their facial expressions are enough to make the movie somehow even funnier.
I think the reason for this is the sheer absurdity of the movie's humor. From the beginning credits, the movie sets its own hilarious tone. From then on, one should expect the unexpected. And the unexpected is exactly. According to Morreall, this movie would especially follow the the Incongruity Theory. Every part we laugh at is absurd and goes against what's considered normal human behavior.
For example, when the Black Knight has his arm cut off, the normal reaction would be to give up and concede the fight. However, he says it's "but a flesh wound" and continues harassing King Arthur. This line is hilarious to us because it makes absolutely no sense. Clearly a severed arm is far more than a flesh wound, but for some reason it doesn't bother the knight.
Another perfect example is the bunny. Normally bunnies are very cute and would rarely bite anyone. And yet, the fearsome beast inside the cave is a really, really scary bunny. And it's hysterical. The men scoff saying he couldn't hurt them, then the bunny goes ham and kills several people. Afterwards, it's seen happily hopping around munching on grass. The scene is once again, incongruous with what we consider normality.
The idea of humor needing tragedy in order to exist that Gordon talks about is also present in this movie. Death is treated very lightly in it, but it's still there. Oftentimes, when someone dies it either happens during or right before a very funny moment, almost as if to distract us from what's happening. For example, a couple people die during the "fight" with the Frenchmen at one castle. However, the Frenchmen are chucking live animals instead of boulders at King Arthur and his men, so the deaths are overlooked.
Another example of this is when the young woman is accused of being a witch. The whole thing is actually very terrible as they eventually drag her off to be burned, but the logic with which they conclude she's a with is simply ridiculous. As a result, we're too busy chuckling over that to worry too much about her fate.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a movie that completely focuses on the absurd. This is what makes it so hilariously funny. Everything from the opening credits to the conclusion of the movie goes exactly the opposite it's supposed to, leaving the audience in stitches for the majority of its run time.
Rabbit attack!
I think you make a very good point about death in the movie. There are actually many death scenes throughout the entire film, but it is almost as if the humor of the film masks the death. The death scenes are actually pretty massive and even bloody at some points but no one seems to notice or care that thousands of people are being slaughtered. I, personally, am extremely sensitive when it comes to both blood and death and obviously, I wasn't phased at all by the blood and death in this movie. It is interesting how the incongruity theory can be applied to death. Even in movies, death is a very sensitive and emotional topic. This movie takes even a subject very touchy with people and uses humor to cause the audience to forget the fact that people are dying.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a really good point about injury and death, as Teresa said too. The practical option and action is almost never seen in this film. I like how you mention the scene of the Black Knight (a personal favorite of mine too). The is almost no practical action in the entire altercation, and I think that's exactly how the incongruity theory shows its best aspects, despite the ridiculous amount a of fake blood involved.
ReplyDeleteYeah it think it is interesting how we perceive death i different genres. For example, a death in a drama/tragedy would be seen as this prolific event during the plot. This is opposed to death in comedies, specifically this one, in that death is just another joke that we laugh at. It is almost that just because we know it is a comedy, it is okay to laugh at people dying.
ReplyDeleteReally good post Rachel! I agree with you that this movie lines up perfectly with what Morreall talks about in his essay and the Incongruity theory. As you mentioned, there are a plethora of scenes and moments in the movie that are simply absurd. For instance like the scene with the young witch who is eventually put to death. The whole trial scene is fully of just crazy and absurd moments that are illogical.
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