Today’s Young generation feel proud of themselves by cracking some jokes and they presume that our forefathers did laugh at the same thing on which we are laughing today. It is true that we do follow some jokes from that century but it is also equally true that Georgian Era people had more sense of humor than all.
The humor of 18th century indeed made them laugh but some humor was of the kind that they use to make people either protest or back off from their ideas. Although Georgian people looked polite and polished from their first impression they were equally cruel and coarse in their sense of humor.
The people of Georgian Era did not believe in romance or sentiments, rather they believed in the world they see in their time rather than extending beyond it. One can say that Georgian Era was considered as the world with violence, crime, prostitution, noise, dirty filth, and deformities but they were very good in their humor and fun which varied highly from vulgarity to obscene and nasty.
The jokes in the Georgian era were not limited to simple humor but they also used the subjects like deformities, handicappers, insanity, rape, and sexual violence. They found nothing wrong in making humor about these topics. They often cracked rumor on racial stereotypes.
There were aristocrats in Georgian times who use to visit “bedlams” where insane people are kept by paying, to observe their antics and make fun of their distress and perplexity. Even anti-Jewish jokes also prevailed during that time.
The jokes of the Georgian times are featured in the famous “Jester” series of publication. the book was printed in the late 18th century with many titles. Most of them just changed the old materials while some of them added new jokes and punches, anecdotes and proverbs.
What are Some examples of Georgian Humour?
Here are presented few jokes which have original content from the Georgian times. They are no less than today’s jokes which are capable enough to roll tears in our eyes. they are funny, informative and amusing also.
- “A lawyer being sick, made his last will, and gave all his estate to fools and madmen: when asked the reason for so doing; he said ‘I had it from such and to such, I give it again’.”
- “A melting sermon being preached in a country church, all fell a weeping but one man; who being asked why he did not weep with the rest, he said: ‘Oh! I belong to another parish’.”
- “A Lady’s Age happening to be questioned, she affirmed she was but Forty and called upon a Gentleman that was in Company for his Opinion; Cousin, said she, do you believe I am in the Right when I say I am but Forty? I ought not to dispute it, Madam, replied he, for I have heard you say so these ten Years.”
- “A famous Teacher of Arithmetic, who had long been married without being able to get his Wife with Child: One said to her, Madam, your Husband is an excellent Arithmetician. Yes, replies she, only he can’t multiply.”
- “A Country Farmer going across his Grounds in the Dusk of the Evening, spied a young Fellow and a Lass very busy near a five Bar Gate, in one of his Fields, and calling to them to know what they were about, said the young Man, no Harm, Farmer, we are only going to Prop-a-Gate.”
- “A clergyman was reading the burial service over an Irish corpse, and having forgotten which sex it was, on coming to that part of the ceremony which reads thus, ‘our dear brother or sister,’ the reverend gentleman stopped, and seeing Pat stand by, stepped back, and whispering to him, said, ‘Is it a brother or a sister?’ Pat says, ‘Friend, this is neither, this is only a relation’.”
- “A woman prosecuted a gentleman for a rape: upon trial, the judge asked her if she made resistance? I cried out, please your Lordship, said the woman. Aye, said one of the witnesses, but that was nine months after.”
- “A person asked an Irishman why he wore his stockings the wrong side outwards? Who answered, because there was a hole on the other side.”