BLACK HUMOUR IN SATISH ALEKAR’S MAHANIRVAN (THE DREAD DEPARTURE)

Abstract

Black humor, in literature, drama, and works or art is used to express the absurdity, insensitivity, paradox, and cruelty of the modern world. Ordinary characters or situations are usually exaggerated far beyond the limits of normal satire or irony. Black humor uses devices often associated with tragedy and is sometimes equated with tragic farce. In his drama The Dread Departure, Satish Alekar employs black humour which is the sub genre of comedy and satire, deliberately creates laughter from cynicism and skepticism. Here the death of Bhaurao is treated in an unusually humorous and satirical manner. The psychological study of the characters represents hypocrisy that lies at the heart of every individual.