Misogelast

The phenomena presented by the misogelast, or laughter-hater; the agelast, or non-laugher; the gelast, who is the laugher himself, and the hypergelast, who is the laugher gone intemperate, are looked into, and as far as possible accounted for, by Dr. Sully.

Analysts of humour no longer have to justify their endeavours by claiming to be battling against recognizable figures who refuse to laugh or who disdain the comic. No-one today wishes to be thought a misogelast, and certainly not to acquire one as a partner.

Why were the Puritans such misogelasts? Why did they not only enjoin mourning but entreat the suppression of laughter?

Laughter is celebrated as the "best medicine", as both socially positive and personally liberatory. Yet the laughter sceptics or the "misogelasts" (haters of laughter) contend that there might be something ugly behind the smile.