He loved her so much because every day she would haul off and punch him in the face. After 50 years of happiness, he contracted a fatal disease and was given two weeks to live. The man told his wife, on his death bed, "honey, I love you so much, but I've always wanted to be punched by a man, at least once before I die. Could you arrange that for me?" His wife replied "of course, my love. I would do anything for you, you know that. I'll go out and find a group of men to deck you in the face, because I love you so much."
3 days later, she returned and said, "my dear, I've found quite a few men who would be happy to fulfill your wish. They're all waiting outside for you!" The man got up, and walked to the door, opened it and greeted the punch line……….
..but there wasn't one.
Joke Poo: The Unreliable Narrator
An aspiring author fell madly in love with a meticulous editor. He cherished her feedback, even when it was brutal, because he knew it made his writing better. Every critique, every rewrite, was a painful but ultimately rewarding experience. After years of a fruitful partnership, he finally landed a book deal. Overjoyed, he told his editor, "Darling, you know I owe everything to you. But there’s always been one thing missing… one final piece of feedback I desperately need before publication."
His editor, touched by his humility and dedication, asked, "Anything, my dear. What is it?"
The author replied, "For this last draft, I need a reader who’s completely unbiased, untouched by your brilliant influence. Could you find someone, anyone, who hasn’t read a single line of my work before, and get their honest opinion?"
The editor, always eager to help, agreed. Three days later, she returned, beaming. "My dear, I’ve found the perfect person! They’ve never seen your work before in their life, and are eager to provide their unbiased, honest opinion. They’re waiting in the next room!"
The author, trembling with anticipation, walked into the next room, ready to face the ultimate critique…
…but there was only a mirror.
Alright, let’s break down this joke and then punch it up (pun intended, naturally).
Joke Dissection:
- Core Premise: A masochistic man and sadistic woman are in a long-term relationship built on physical abuse. The humor comes from the extremity and longevity of this setup.
- Twist: The man, nearing death, has a final, specific desire: to be punched by a man. This is unexpected, subverting the established dynamic.
- Punchline: The wife doesn’t deliver the desired punch. The joke hinges on anti-climax. It’s a "punchline" that’s missing, physically embodied by the absence of the promised men.
- Key Elements:
- Sadomasochism: The core dynamic.
- Gender Roles/Expectations: The man’s unexpected desire introduces a layer of gender expectations about violence and masculinity.
- Anti-Climax: The punchline’s absence.
Comedic Enrichment:
Let’s focus on the element of anti-climax and the concept of the missing "punch" as the punchline.
New Joke/Witty Observation:
"Why did the existentialist cross the road? Because he heard there was a punchline on the other side. He got there… and it was just a void. He decided that probably meant something profound, then stubbed his toe and grumbled about Sartre."
Explanation: This joke plays on the idea that the punchline is not there, mirroring the original.
The set up implies that an existentialist would cross a road for a meaningful punchline. The payoff is not a traditional punchline, but a void, which the existentialist would deem profound. This creates humor via incongruity (void -> profound) and recognition. The addition of stubbing the toe, and reference to the absurdist philosopher Jean Paul Sartre adds levity and emphasizes the character’s disposition for meaning in the absurd.
Amusing "Did You Know" (Related to Anti-Climax in Comedy):
"Did you know that the ‘anti-joke’ is a legitimate comedic form? It’s basically a joke that leads you to expect a funny payoff, but then deliberately delivers something mundane, predictable, or just plain not funny. Think of it as the Seinfeld of jokes: a joke about nothing… happening."
This "did you know" enhances the original joke by contextualizing it within a recognized comedic form. It helps the listener understand that the lack of a punchline is, in itself, a deliberate comedic choice.