Respond in at least 5 sentences. The answer needs to be written in complete sentences. Include at least 1 quote from the story “A Shocking Accident” by Graham Greene to earn full credit and support your response.
What is the theme of “A Shocking Accident” by Graham Greene? How does the use of humor enforce that theme? Write 1–2 paragraphs containing your analysis. In your response, please discuss humor of situation, humor of character, and humor of language.
The theme of “A Shocking Accident” by Graham Greene revolves around the unpredictability and absurdity of life. This is demonstrated through the sudden death of Mrs. Baines’ husband in a freak accident involving a pig falling from an airplane. The use of humor in this story serves to reinforce this theme by highlighting the absurdity of the situation. For example, when Mr. Baines’ death is revealed, the author writes, “Mrs. Baines comes each year at Christmas and puts a wreath on the place where he was killed by a pig falling out of an airplane.”
The humor of the situation lies in the irony of a mundane accident causing a tragic death. The characters in the story also convey humor through their reactions to the event. For instance, Mrs. Baines’ casual acceptance of her husband’s death and her insistence on visiting the site every year to commemorate it adds a darkly comic element to the story. Furthermore, the language used by Greene, such as the matter-of-fact tone in describing the incident, adds an additional layer of humor to the narrative. This humor serves to underscore the story's theme of the unpredictable and absurd nature of life.