Author Topic: Satanic Monkey (Read 2494 times)

s2srea · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2011, 06:50:26 PM »

Quote from: Vladimir

This story is so hilarious. Is it reprinted in modern editions of the the text?

Perhaps you can explain why it is hilarious to you? Do you distrust its authenticity, or is there another aspect to it which is humorous to you?

Raoul76 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2011, 07:03:23 PM »

Just the idea of this lawyer having a trained monkey who is really the devil is kind of comical. Imagine the devil masquerading as a monkey in a valet's uniform, it's kind of loony. It's a lot like the absurdist humor of today, like those Burger King commercials with "the King" appearing in someone's bed to present him with a bacon and egg sandwich. So if Vladimir has that modern sense of humor, absurdist, I can see why he thinks it's funny. I have a bit of that myself, having watched so many dumb movies.

The priest's cry of "Infernal beast!" is also funny from a certain mindset, this priest screaming at a seemingly harmless little monkey. If you put that in a movie it would bring down the house.

I read the same story -- yes, it is in modern editions -- and I found it more horrifying, it reminded me of Edgar Allen Poe stories like Hop-Frog or Rue Morgue ( which possibly drew on this very tale from St. Alphonsus, since Poe drew on lots of Catholic material ). But it depends on your mindset when you're reading it, I can see how it would strike someone as funny.

PartyIsOver221 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2011, 07:26:35 PM »

Not gona lie, I kind of laughed.

Who doesn't think a satanic monkey is just ridiculous... really.

But on the other hand, it could be seen as quite realistic, in that the devil is the ape of God. The ape, which can be taken as both mimicker or as an actual primate.

Catholic Samurai · « **Reply #8 on:** December 23, 2011, 07:45:50 PM »

Hey, I believe it, but I still laughed!

This actually makes me a little suspicious of a few of my animals.... the bunnies in particular. :devil2:

Vladimir · « **Reply #9 on:** December 23, 2011, 08:46:23 PM »

Quote from: Catholic Samurai

Hey, I believe it, but I still laughed!

This actually makes me a little suspicious of a few of my animals.... the bunnies in particular. :devil2:

Sorry, the way this story sounds in English is just a bit absurd. Doesn't the lawyer seem a bit like a dunce?

I originally read this book in another language and it was not as funny.

And no, I don't doubt the veracity of the account.

Much more moving though is the story of the two players that each went home and one of them went to Hell that night because he forget to say a Hail Mary and appeared to the other one telling him why, etc.