Absurdity Quote by Anthony Marra
“In my own work, humor is necessary, for the reasons stated above, but also because forbidding your characters silliness, absurdity, irony, and vulgarity forbids them aspects of the human experience every bit as universal as sorrow.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, “The Art of Writing” by Anthony Marra, 2020
Humor is essential in storytelling because it captures universal human experiences that are as fundamental as sorrow, allowing characters to feel authentic and relatable.
In simple terms: Humor makes characters feel real and relatable.
Key Takeaway
Include humor to reflect full human experience.
Themes
creativity
humanity
authenticity
literature
emotion
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
inspirational
Type
literary
instructional
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- character development
- teaching creative writing
Key Concepts
narrative depth
psychology
cultural expression
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humor deepen character connection?
- When might humor distract from a story’s core?
A Different Perspective
Humor can alienate audiences if overused or misapplied.
