umour means taking delight in the mirthful and the ludicrous. People with a strong sense of humour are very popular and their presence in any gathering is highly welcomed. They add spice to otherwise stale parties attended by many out of a sense of duty or decorum. They always put on a happy countenance and exude cheerfulness.
They are capable of affecting others too with a sense of humour and cheerfulness. Many a time they function like an oasisof hope in the midst of desert of worldly woes and difficulties. Life is neither good nor bad. It is what you make of it. If one has developed an attitude of always looking at the dark-side of life, he will always manage to find some drawback and shortcoming even in a happy situation.
On the other hand, people with an even temperament and equipped with a sense of humour always find something consoling or even amusing in many not so happyr situations. Excellent examples of boisterous humour are found in Shakespeare's play "As You Like It" where all the characters manage to reach Forest of Arden and have a great time inspite of all drawbacks and shortcomings of country life. Rosalind is deeply in love with Orlando, but manages to make fun of him when she sees him wounded by a tiger :
"O, my dear Orlando, how it grieves me to see thee wear thy heart in a scarf".
Orlando — It is my arm. ROS. I thought the heart had been wounded with the claws of a lion.
Orl. - Wounded it is, but with the eyes of a lady. Rosalind's scintillating wit changes the complexion of things and personali- ties. She makes fun of Melancholy Jacques saying
"You have reason to be sad. I fear you have sold your lands to other men; then to have seen much and to have nothing is to have rich eyes and poor hands". Thus Rosalind punctures the vanity of Jacques and puts him in his place.
