Monty Python’s Meaning of Life by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Eric Idle

Monty Python’s Meaning of Life by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Eric Idle

A different version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:

-              https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E  and   http://realini.blogspot.ro/

Monty Python is the best comedy group ever.

And they are not just making fun, they raise crucial questions:

-          What is the meaning of life?

They take a light approach and the public has fun.

But there is a paramount importance to the issues raised.

Religion is discussed and criticized.

One of the first important fragments of this comedy deals with a really large family that keeps growing.

While we’re watching, a new infant drops on the floor from his mother’s womb, parent who is portrayed by Terry Jones.

The father, played by Michael Palin, returns home to say that he has no option but sell them for medical experiments.

And I have no idea how many kids he has: 56? 83?

The point being the ridiculous and ultimately criminal insistence of the church that sex is only ok if it produces children.

A couple across the street from these Catholics laughs at their predicament, even if the husband has nothing to recommend his thinking.

He boasts that he is a protestant and therefore can have sex any time he wants and without consequences.

His spouse is aroused in a funny manner, but protests that they are really the same as their neighbor in the sense that:

“Harry Blackitt: Because... every time they have sexual intercourse, they have to have a baby.

Mrs. Blackitt: But it's the same with us, Harry.

Harry Blackitt: What do you mean?

Mrs. Blackitt: Well, I mean, we've got two children, and we've had sexual intercourse twice.

Harry Blackitt: That's not the point. We could have it any time we wanted.”

Still on the subject of God, religion that has annoyed critics of the comedy group so much that it wanted some of its films banned:

“Chaplain: Let us praise God. O Lord...

Congregation: O Lord...

Chaplain: ...Ooh, You are so big...

Congregation: ...ooh, You are so big...

Chaplain: ...So absolutely huge.

Congregation: ...So absolutely huge.

Chaplain: Gosh, we're all really impressed down here, I can tell You.

Congregation: Gosh, we're all really impressed down here, I can tell You.

Chaplain: Forgive us, O Lord, for this, our dreadful toadying, and...

Congregation: And barefaced flattery.

Chaplain: But You are so strong and, well, just so super.

Congregation: Fantastic.

Humphrey: Amen.

Congregation: Amen.”

A favorite part of mine comes at the end, where Death makes a stunning appearance that is unexpectedly funny:

“Host: It's a Mr. Death, dear. He's here about the reaping.

Grim Reaper: Englishmen, you're all so fucking pompous. None of you have got any balls…

Grim Reaper: You are all dead. I am Death.

Host: Well, that's cast rather a gloom over the evening, hasn't it?

Grim Reaper: Shut up, you American. You Americans, all you do is talk, and talk, and say "let me tell you something" and "I just wanna say." Well, you're dead now, so shut up.”

And finally, the Meaning of Life?

“Lady Presenter: M-hmm. Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations…”