browning
Explanation
The Joke
This comic is a promotional tie-in for the Weinersmiths' book "Soonish." It presents a poetic/literary commentary on the nature of feelings and opinions. The top panels set up a serious, philosophical tone: "No matter how embarrassed you feel about something you said..." and "No matter how hard it is for you to forgive..." suggesting deep emotional struggles. But then the comic pivots to Robert Browning, the Victorian poet, who apparently thought that "To have a response" to a naive hat was profound literature.
The punchline recites actual (or parodied) Browning verse in an overwrought style, and then a character declares "HUMAN LITERATURE!" with gleeful enthusiasm, as if the absurdity of Browning's poetry validates everyone's own embarrassing moments. The message is: if the literary canon includes this kind of overwrought material, you have no reason to feel bad about anything you've ever said or written.
The Humor
The comedy arises from juxtaposing genuine emotional vulnerability (feeling embarrassed, struggling to forgive) with the revelation that one of the most celebrated poets in the English language produced work that, when read without reverence, sounds absurd. By framing Browning's verse as evidence that the bar for "great literature" is lower than we think, the comic both deflates literary pretension and offers a backhanded form of comfort. The enthusiastic "HUMAN LITERATURE!" exclamation serves as the punchline, celebrating the absurdity rather than criticizing it.
References
Robert Browning (1812-1889) was a major Victorian-era English poet known for dramatic monologues. His poetry, while critically acclaimed, is often noted for its density and occasionally obscure phrasing, making it a fair target for gentle mockery. This comic was part of the "Soonish" book promotion series.