Man approaches widow at a funeral: “Do you mind if I say a word”
Widow: “by all means, please do”
Man: “Bargain”
Widow: “Thank you. That means a great deal”
Joke Poo: Price Check
A stressed shopper approaches a cashier at the grand opening of a new supermarket: "Do you mind if I ask a question?"
Cashier: "Of course, please do."
Shopper: "Avocados?"
Cashier: "Premium."
Shopper: "Perfect. Just what I needed."
Okay, let’s break down this joke:
Core Elements:
- Situation: Funeral, a traditionally somber and grief-stricken event.
- Character 1: A man, an outsider to the immediate family, presumably attending the funeral.
- Character 2: A widow, deeply grieving the loss of her spouse.
- The Exchange: A request for a brief, consoling remark turns into a literal, unexpected statement.
- The Punchline: The man’s single word "Bargain" juxtaposed against the Widow’s expectation of condolences/sympathy.
- Humor Type: Wordplay, dark humor (due to the setting), situational irony (the unexpected use of "bargain").
Why it’s Funny (or tries to be):
The humor derives from the jarring contrast between the expected emotional gravity of a funeral and the man’s cold, transactional word. It’s funny because it’s inappropriate and completely misses the mark, implying that the deceased was a good deal.
Time for Enrichment!
Let’s delve into the history of funeral rituals and economics to spin off some related humor:
Enrichment Option 1: The "Funerary Economics" Angle
Tidbit: Funerals are expensive. The median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial in 2021 was over $7,800 (according to the National Funeral Directors Association). The cost of coffins has led to some interesting solutions.
New Joke:
A used coffin salesman approached the widow at the funeral. "I understand your husband drove a hard bargain in life?" he asked sympathetically.
She nodded sadly.
"Well," the salesman continued, lowering his voice, "I’m offering a two-for-one deal on the coffins… Think of it as a… buy one, die another situation."
Enrichment Option 2: Playing on Etymology and Linguistic Irony
Tidbit: The word "eulogy" comes from the Greek "eulogia," meaning "praise" or "good word."
Witty Observation:
That guy at the funeral offering just "Bargain" as his condolences? That’s not a eulogy, that’s a duology. One word for the deceased, and another for the price.
Enrichment Option 3: Leaning into the Dark Humor:
Tidbit: Ancient cultures had varied traditions. Vikings sometimes burned ships with the deceased. Egyptians buried their dead with riches, cats (and mice) and all sorts of stuff,
New Joke:
Man at funeral whispers to Widow: "Hey, I know this might seem inappropriate, but hear me out…"
Widow, teary eyed: "Go on…"
Man: "If we light him up in a Viking ship funeral and sell the insurance money now, the returns could be staggering. Just imagine the ROI! He loved efficiency."
Widow:"Get out."
In summary:
By identifying the core elements of the joke and the comedic technique used, and then utilizing relevant trivia, we can create more elaborate humor that is richer in it’s background.