Subversive Laughter to Colonial Authority and Gender Norms: The Comic in Some Experiences of an Irish R. M.

In Some Experiences of an Irish R. M., Irish people are depicted following stereotyped images delivering a comic tone to the stories. Set in the rural area of west Ireland, the comedy of the stories mainly revolves around boisterous uproars of Irishmen. Yeates, as a resident magistrate, represents English law and order; however, his authority as an officer is ridiculed in ruckuses raised by Irish people who often indulge in drinking, deceiving, bragging and violation of laws. As Yeates is a delegate of the English government, his being a target of laughter connotes subversiveness to colonial power. Besides, women characters, including Yeates’s English wife Philippa, do not follow the Victorian code of womanhood. Rather, they seem to be more energetic and stronger than men. They often control and dominate male figures including Yeates. Crossing the gender boundary, women characters become resistant to the norms of Victorian society. Rebellious laughter coming from challenging authority and gender norms is also a significant element to exhibit that poverty-stricken Irish people do not lose their vital force. It is imperative for them to keep their vitality to survive under colonial rules. Accordingly, the laughter which implies subversiveness to imperialist power and gender code becomes the means of survival for the Irish.