In the article Stan and Ollie: The Two Clown Angels, Kyp Harness suggests that Stan and Ollie stand as " oppressed every men". Read the article and consider the 2 characters as examples of the Inner and Outer Clown. In the article Harness suggests that clown have a tragic "structural premise". They propose to do something and they fail.
http://laurelandhardycentral.com/angels.htm
Have a look at the link below. You will see scenes from the American sitcom Perfect Strangers. In this the actors re-enact a scene from Laurel & hardy. While they accurately imitate the physical movements of Laurel & Hardy consider how far they reproduce their "clowning".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o1uLvzOgHw&feature=related
Having read the article view part one of Duck Soup for evidence of the Inner and Outer Clown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ4YF7xkiXE&feature=related
