A Psychological Study on the ‘Comic of the Naive’: Focusing on Lenz’s So zärtlich war Suleyken

Abstract

This article studies the psychological pleasure provided by the ‘comic of the naive (Das Naiv-Komische)’, focusing on Siegfried Lenz’s 『So zärtlich war Suleyken』. Through the theories of Freud and Lipps, I determine the place that ‘the naive’ occupies in laughter theory and its meaning. Lipps treats ‘the naive’ as a type of the comic and analyzes in depth the ‘comic contrast’ in which the naiv words and actions break down our psychological expectations. Freud also analyzes the ‘comic of the naive’ from the perspective of saving the energy needed to follow the reality principle. This characteristic of the ‘comic of the naive’ is similar to humor and wit. It is the contrast and play between meaninglessness and meaning, and the psychological liberation that arises from this. The naive words and actions of the People in Suleyken, who transcend concepts and common sense but are naive and full of self-affirmation and pride, give us the laughter of liberation.