Clown Character Types

Below are eight clown types. These are notes I made in 1980 on an old Altair computer -- one of the very first personal computers. We had to flip switches on the front panel to input binary code to boot the computer.

I don't recall where precisely I found the inspiration/source for this material those 30 some years ago. But here they are for your edification.

Bureaucrat

Definitely a company person, this clown's view of the world is restricted to the unspoken rules and regulations that crop up in any society. By confining himself to this narrow point of view, this clown exempts himself from thought or feeling. He does not have to consider how his actions affect his fellows because he always acts "properly." The blind spots that are established by this character serve only to point up the absurdity of this position.

Demagogue

The figure of unbridled authority operates on this own set of rules with a narrow-mindedness that excludes variant opinions completely.

Dummy

This character is not really dumb -- he is just overly logical. When another clown gives him a job to do, he does it to the letter. If asked to shake he does shake -- but all over. he is so literal minded that the other clowns must take care in what they say when he is around, or they will find their very own words turned against them. The dummy seems dumb through all of the insanity he creates because he cannot understand why everything is going awry.

Egotist

This clown is always right, whether he is or not. He pushes the other clowns about to fit his own conception of the way things should be and is always ready to take credit where none is due. When this character gets slapped down, the audience enjoys seeing this guy get his for a change.

Narcissist

Filled with a sense of his own beauty, this character is always a trifle removed from this situation because his attention is centered on himself. Like the egotist, he has little of which to be proud.

Poor Soul

The luck of this character always seems to run against him. That he actually is the author of a major portion of his own misfortune never seems to occur to him. He remains constantly resigned to what he believes is his inevitable fate.

Timid Soul

This character would be afraid to ask for water even if he were dying of thirst. his insecurity is painfully evident to the audience. The least boisterous of all the clowns, he is often the butt of the pranks of his fellows. But, like the fool, he seems protected by God, for he always seems to come out on top. Through this shyness and uncertainty he man ages to turn the tables on his detractors.

Tippler

The clown uses this character to poke fun at overindulgence. This is not the chronic drunk.

Escape Velocity

Over the course of this winter some very good friends are working on creating lists for themselves by addressing the questions "What did they hope to accomplish with their life?" and, "What will they regret not doing if they should die without doing it?"

Reading emails from a couple of these friends I was reminded of something.

The thing I was reminded of was those moments right after the realization that nothing else will be done. This realization can come shortly before organic death, or it can be minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even longer. Whatever the timing, there will come a moment when we realize our capacity for getting any real work done is kaput.

I believe that when this time comes it is important to assess with a clear heart the results of one's life. Accept with gratitude that which one has been able to accomplish. And, take onto one's self a clear vision of that which one has not accomplished.

Let's assume that one has on their list of wishes something along the lines of "be with others with a caring and open heart."

Let's further assume that on your death bed your assessment is that you fell short of this goal.

I am suggesting that if you can hold a clear vision of this wish along with guiltless regret that you did not accomplish it, that you can use this as fuel to thrust you in the direction of a next incarnation that will be on the path toward achievement of that goal.

Reviewing the above, I come across the statement: "Whatever the timing, there will come a moment when we realize our capacity for getting any real work done is kaput." It occurs to me that this sentence holds both a truth and a lie. The truth is that there will come a moment when we realize our capacity for getting any real work done is kaput. The lie is that we cannot get any real work done at that time. Who is to say how much work can be accomplished even though you haven't the capacity.

In the words of Commander Peter Quincy Taggert: never give up, never surrender.