To be serious, as if compelled by the impending finality of death. All things, viewed in this light—or darkness, rather—can be seen in one of two ways: comedically or tragically. It is the comedian who says, “Oh well,” and laughs. It is the tragic hero who assumes the grave demeanor, under the weight of an important task, and with limited time to achieve it. The tragic hero rebukes the comedian for not taking seriously the state of things. But the comedian knows that the tragic hero will go mad, even before his death over which he so worries, if he does not learn to laugh.