Beginning of The History Boys coursework

How far do you agree that the comedy in The History Boys conceals a serious exploration of desires?

Peter Ustinov, an English actor, writer and dramatist said, 'comedy is simply a funny way of being serious.' When really considering this, you may say that it is the foundation of The History Boys itself. A ‘funny way of being serious’, can be applied in almost every element of this play. For example, Dakin is talking to Scripps about Hector and his bike; 'Scripps: He does go for it. That’s the trouble. Dakin: In controlled conditions. Not on the fucking bike. I’m terrified.' This shows Dakin using comedy to make sense of chaos, drama, a ‘funny way of being serious.’ We learn later in the play, Dakin is exploring his sexuality himself, (his relationship with Irwin) so this may be a foreshadowing of his later journeying and showing repressed desires toward men. This example shows precisely how Bennett has sewn the dramatic genre and the comedic genre together using repressed and un-repressed desires. 

 Sexuality is a recurring theme throughout The History Boys and this is explored through the use of both repressed and unrepressed desires. This theme creates the foundation for the comical and dramatic genres and these work in sync with one another, like Bennett has threaded the two genres together so intricately it is hard to differentiate the two. For example, Posner is talking to Scripps about Irwin liking Dakin: 'But he doesn’t understand. Irwin does like him. He seldom looks at anyone else. Scripps: How do you know? Posner: Because nor do I. Our eyes meet looking at Dakin.' This explores the theme of sexuality through Posner having an unrequited love for Dakin, shared by their teacher Irwin, which can be seen as comical as throughout the entire play, Posner is hopeless when it comes to the pursuit of sex and love, e.g. 'Posner: (about going on Hector’s bike) I’d go. I’m never asked.' He also makes reference to his disadvantages: 'Posner: I'm Jewish... I'm small... I'm homosexual... and I live in Sheffield... I'm fucked.' This extrovertly appears very funny to audiences but this is masking the more dark and dramatic side. One of the things Posner wants most in this play, apart from Dakin, is to be molested by Hector on his bike. However, this is not immediately apparent in this statement as the comedy is what is responded to first, showing Bennett’s ability to weave the two genres together. This also demonstrates how comedy is constructed through Posner’s repressed desire to go on the bike with Hector.

Another way in which comical drama is shown through repressed and unrepressed desires is in the complicated relationship between Dakin and Irwin. For example, 'Dakin: What I was really wondering was whether there were any circumstances in which there was any chance of your sucking me off.' This line is outwardly shocking to audiences and therefore prompts laughter, and when dismissed and put down as a school boy crush, is humorous. However again, Bennett is deliberately sewing comedy and drama together.