The Guts (2013): the quintessence of Roddy Doyle¿s art of fiction

Abstract

Scholars coming from che rnost dilferent fields have rejected che characrerizacion of comedy as hosrile, scornful and aggressive and have defended irs posirive, regenerating and crearive qualiries. Laughter liberares man from everything that oppresses and terrifies him: the sacred, death, divine and human power, etc. Comedy does not ignore suffering or sadness but makes them more bearable. Comedy does not lead to despair over che rensions and prob­lems of our lives, but to che celebration oflife an.d renewal of hope and faich. Humour cre­ares a comic perspective that allows us to keep a distance and chus transcend a menacing realiry. Roddy Doyle is one of the auchors chat has bese undersrood rhar human existen ce is an interplay berween comedy and tragedy. He has shown thac it is possible to deal wich che most difficult and harsh situations in a comic way without trivializing them. In Ihe Guts (2..013) Jimmy Rabbitre, che hero ofDoyle's 1987 novel Ihe Commitments, is diagnosed with bowel cancer. He has pare ofhis colon removed and has ro go to chemocherapy sessions. Despite che side effeccs of cancer -nausea, weakness, diarrhoea, memory loss -Jimmy is capable of coping wich his illness by making jokes and laughing at it. He recognizes that he can only transcend his pain and his fear by exploiting his sense of humour. Jimmy's capacity to laugh in the face of suffering allows him to celebrate life and affirm rhar che air is 'full of wet hope'.