In Ars Poetica, Horace states in the section "Emotion and Character" that "it's not enough for poetry to be beautiful; it must also be pleasing and lead the hearer's mind wherever it will... Sad words suit a mournful countenance; threatening words an angry one." The idea that actions and words must be befitting to the character has always been something I'd known, but I'd never seen it written as concretely. If the characters don't fit the role that is required, it seems comical even if that wasn't the effect intended. In fact, I think a lot of modern comedy owes something to the idea of misfitting a character for a role. One example of this is in this old SNL skit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLA3cdUt5to
Clearly, Chris Farley is much too fat to be a Chippendale, and the lean Patrick Swayze is a prime candidate to be a Chippendale's dancer. But Farley's weight is never mentioned until the very end of the skit. The idea of Chis Farley being considered for a position as a male stripper is so comic that jokes aren't even needed in this skit. This is an example of what happens when you break decorum, though this is done in the skit for obvious comedic effect.
Clearly, Chris Farley is much too fat to be a Chippendale, and the lean Patrick Swayze is a prime candidate to be a Chippendale's dancer. But Farley's weight is never mentioned until the very end of the skit. The idea of Chis Farley being considered for a position as a male stripper is so comic that jokes aren't even needed in this skit. This is an example of what happens when you break decorum, though this is done in the skit for obvious comedic effect.
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