Pathos and Humour in the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe
... Two main emotions expressed quite commonly are humour and pathos. In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe adequately used techniques to evoke both laughter and sympathy from its readers. ... This essay will discuss how humour and pathos were generated in book IV lines 55-166 through examples of their usage. Pathos emerged throughout the passage in the form of forbidden love. Pyramus and Thisbe lived in neighboring houses but their families forbade them to speak to one another. ... Thisbe being seen with Pyramus would have been uncalled for. ... Both Pyramus and Thisbe kissed the wall every night before leaving their meeting place. Mention of this creates one of the most striking moments of pathos. ... The parents of Pyramus and Thisbe play a significant role as well. ... Thisbe and Pyramus going against their parents was a great disrespect to this tradition. ... As the story unfolds and the love of two youths is revealed to be forbidden, the intended audience knows right away that the tale will be tragic in one way or another. ... Pathos is again created through careful use and placement of inevitabilities. In the tale, there are a few examples of foreshadowing – a warning or indication of an event.