Fourth Symphony By Dorian Colby Summary

Different types of humor are prevalent throughout the entirety of this story, such as dark humor and irony. One of the first instances of humor that we see in this story is when Colby decides what sort of music him and his friends should have at his own hanging. Colby mentions how he has “always been fond of Ives’s Fourth Symphony,” to which Howard replies that Colby is using this song as a “‘delaying tactic’ and that everybody [knows] that the Ives [is] almost impossible to perform,” he then states that Colby should “Be reasonable.” This conversation is humorous because any reasonable person would want to prolong their death for as long as possible. The fact that Howard is telling Colby to be “reasonable” is ironic because Colby is, in fact,

Colby then agrees and asks if “he would be able to have drinks, too?” Prisoners generally don’t have many privileges; the fact that Colby, a prisoner of his friends, has the right to partake in drinking at his hanging creates humor. Furthermore, the fact that they take his input into consideration while planning the event also is humorous, as most prisoners don't get that luxury either. As the planning of Colby’s hanging continues, the topic of transporting the guests comes into question. Harry, who runs a car-and-truck-rental business, offers to provide “about ten limousines, which he used mostly for funerals.” The suggestion creates a humorous situation because Harry’s funeral-limousines will now be used to transport guests to an execution. The fact that these vehicles are already used for a common theme of death gives us a funny parallel to the execution. The thought of holding the hanging outside arises. Harry then says that if the hanging is rained on, “It would look kind of dismal.” Initially, hangings are not the happiest of events in the first place so this is slightly humorous. The humor is brought out when the author makes it sound as if the hanging is only dismal after it’s rained