Let's talk about laughter. All the novels we've read have featured it. You might be thinking "But Jenna, every book with people has laughter in it! Why are we talking about this like it's some big deal?". And to that I answer, my dear friend, is because laughter means something bigger than just a funny joke in the three novels we have read so far. Let's start first with Native Son.
In Native Son, we don't often hear laughter. It's a harrowing story, after all, so this kind of makes sense. There's not many opportunities for us to laugh; it's not meant to be funny. The few times we do hear laughter, it's either at a character's expense or highly highly ironic, usually in situations that are so bad all you can do is laugh. Laughter in this context is a sign of lost hope. When all hope is lost, what can you do but laugh? Laughter is the only thing to do in such dismal circumstances, and it hurts to hear Bigger laugh. It signifies that he thinks there really is no way out of this stupid horrible circumstance.
Now let's compare that to Invisible Man. In Invisible Man, we see many characters laugh. The book is different from Native Son in that it's supposed to be funny; sometimes, we too are allowed to laugh. Laughter in this novel is used as a signal of subverting authority and expectations of the status quo. Bledsoe laughs when he finally lets down the mask in front of the narrator, the vet laughs at Norton's expense, and the narrator at the end with the committee meeting can hardly stop himself from joking around, pulling the brothers on a string, wanting to laugh so badly. We can see how much laughter plays a role in lifting people up in this novel. It gives people power rather than signifying when all power is lost.
Now let's shift to Their Eyes Were Watching God. In this novel, there isn't much mention of laughter until Tea Cake shows up. Before, in her two relationships, there's hardly any mention of laughter. Her partners seemed focused on their own goals and ideals for Janie, and never stop to consider her and her needs. Tea Cake on the other hand loves to make Janie laugh, and actually seems to care for Janie. This shows how laughter in this novel conveys lifting people up in terms of love. The laughter they share shows the connection between them, and shows that Janie is actually falling in love, and that Tea Cake (hopefully) is as well.
