The Use of Humor in I Claudius - Essay Example

The Use of Humor in I Claudius Humor and wit from this renowned tale, I, Claudius by Robert Graves feels in a way that completely enthralls the reader. The story captured during the ancient rule of Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and Claudius provides compelling scenes in which the characters feel their listeners with unmistakable bouts of wit. This paper shall analyze and provide a persuasive critique of the use of humor in the novel and the manner in which either adds or detracts from the plot.

The humor within the body of the novel serves to relay the plot and storyline. In the novel, Claudius is the subject of ridicule and prejudicial treatment as a result of his physical deformities. Through the story, the reader is informed on the constant power play amongst the wives and relatives of the emperors, and being in the family and deformed; Claudius manages to evade their pitiful schemes. In the story one is informed of such a scene in where Claudius lies down in bed fearful as Urgulanilla slips away and comes back after succession of dread shrieks and thumps which seems to be the murder of her sister in law Apronia (Graves, 270-272).

Throughout the text humor continues to be intensified as the author paints the characters in witty moments. When his idol Asinius Pollio tells Claudius to feign foolishness as a method to escape any possible early assassination, and the audience is left laughing at the thought of a great king embracing such an outrageous proposal to ascend to power. Humor redirects the thematic presentation and influences the audience perception of the author’s idea. In this narration, humor emphasizes the interest of the author to offer an informative aspect of literature in addressing everyday life.

There is significant taste of originality that surrounds the complex relationship among characters in the narration. The unimaginable betrayal that overrides the true identity of some characters offers humor to the audience, obviously a poor taste of humor, nonetheless captivates in understanding the story. The case of Tiberius who had faith in Sejanus who exhibit mean character sums up to a humorous end, and the effect is that it subverts the attention of the narrator towards rhetoric concepts.

The intertwining conspiracies and proof of suspicion among major characters can be attributed to institutional changes. In the first place, the author confesses that Claudius himself writes the book but uses such a ploy to keep the audience yearning to hear something. Since ordinary citizenry could not accept that Claudius is the man under question, the unusual ending of the biography that emphasizes leadership styles that marvels everyone. How could one write a book and finally tell the authors that the entire work is personal experience.

This is the first aspect of intrigue that leaves the audience wondering about the overall intention of the narrator. Since literature is the mirror in which the character of an individual is reflected, humor diffuses the contentious part of it (Graves 47). In the context of this work, humor also helps in breaking the monotony of the series of murders that characterize the power wrangles in which Claudius takes central role. In essence, this work is composed of several literary tools that underlie the aggregate composition.

Critical evaluation of various humorous excerpts also exhibits the creativity of the author and appreciation literature. Work cited Graves, Robert. I, Claudius: From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius, Emperor of the Romans, Born 10 B.c. Murdered and Deified A.d. 54. London: Collectors Library, 2013. Print.