Bill Watterson named the protagonists of Calvin and Hobbes after European philosophers John Calvin and Thomas Hobbes. While the characters rarely align with their namesakes' philosophies—with Hobbes the tiger often embodying a state of nature rather than social contract theory—Watterson did find a shared sentiment: a low opinion of human nature.
In a 1990 commencement speech at Kenyon College, Watterson offered a guiding principle for the comic strip: "To invent your own life's meaning is not easy, but it's still allowed, and I think you'll be happier for the trouble." This sentiment suggests that the core of Calvin and Hobbes lies not in philosophical articulation, but in Calvin's constant questioning and exploration of existence.
Hobbes, in contrast, often provides simple, direct responses to Calvin's complex inquiries. This pattern has led to a recurring theme in the comic where Hobbes offers a concise, often pragmatic, view that cuts through existential angst.
One notable instance occurs in the April 19, 1992, strip. Calvin ponders the evolutionary purpose of a sense of humor, questioning why humans laugh at absurdity. Hobbes responds, "I suppose if we couldn't laugh at things that don't make sense, we couldn't react to a lot of life." Calvin, contemplating this, muses, "I can't tell if that's funny or really scary."
This exchange highlights Hobbes' role as a grounding force, offering a perspective that acknowledges the necessity of humor as a coping mechanism for life's inherent absurdities. It reflects a sentiment echoed by artists and writers like Lord Byron, suggesting that laughter can serve as a vital response to overwhelming realities. The strip, benefiting from Watterson's negotiated freedom with Sunday comic formats, uses its space effectively to present this profound observation, solidifying it as one of Hobbes' wisest pronouncements.
