What is the meaning of comical poverty?
Comical poverty means extreme or pangs of poverty.
This term was used in the story ‘The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse’ written by William Saroyan. It explained that the Garoghlanians were honest but very poor and poverty-stricken; still, they never resorted to any unfair deeds to earn money or food. Precisely, an ironical description about their struggle to cope up with their poverty.
The boy, who is from a poor family, who is known for his morality, cannot fathom that his brother could steal a horse to ride. This in itself is interesting for the boy. Every idea that passes through the mind of the boy, after looking at the horse, has been romanticized by the writer. Riding the stolen horse and hiding it carefully are great feats of adventure for the two boys. But their family is recognized for their morality and the same streak is also present in them. After a while, they overcome their desire and return the horse to its rightful owner.