lent-2
Explanation
The Joke
The comic shows two people walking together. One announces "I'm giving up for Lent." When the other asks "Giving up what?" the first person clarifies: "Just giving up. Just giving up in general." The implication is that they are not giving up a specific indulgence (chocolate, alcohol, social media) as is traditional during Lent, but rather giving up on life or effort altogether. When the second person later asks "How's that going?" the response is simply "Ech," which perfectly embodies the spirit of someone who has given up on everything.
The Humor
The joke hinges on the double meaning of "giving up." During Lent, Christians traditionally "give up" something -- that is, they abstain from a pleasure or habit as a form of sacrifice. But "giving up" also means surrendering, quitting, or losing the will to try. By collapsing these two meanings, the comic turns a religious practice of self-discipline into existential resignation. The monosyllabic "Ech" in the final panel is the perfect punchline because it demonstrates the commitment to having given up -- the person cannot even muster enough energy to form a complete word or thought. The comic was published in late April 2020, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, which gives the "giving up in general" sentiment an extra layer of relatable bleakness.