"I am an expert of electricity. My father occupied the chair of applied electricity at the state prison"

W. C. Fields is known for his dry wit and clever use of irony, and this statement is a prime example of his humor. The line presents itself as a straightforward assertion of expertise, but immediately undercuts that sense of authority with an outrageous twist. The initial phrase, “I am an expert of electricity,” establishes a kind of bluff self-importance that sets up the reader to expect a legitimate credential or impressive background. However, the punchline comes when Fields mentions his father "occupied the chair of applied electricity at the state prison".

The misdirection lies in the use of academic and professional-sounding language. Ordinarily, “occupied the chair of” would refer to holding a prestigious academic position, such as being a university professor or head of a department in a respected institution. “Applied electricity” sounds like a technical, scientific field, and the combination of these phrases raises expectations for a remarkable pedigree.

The comedic effect comes when all these expectations collapse at “state prison.” The phrase can be interpreted literally: Fields’ father was an inmate who was electrocuted (perhaps in an electric chair), rather than a professor or scientist. The wordplay uncovers a darkly comic contrast between eminence and disgrace, knowledge and punishment. This joke subverts social status, where expertise is often linked to elite backgrounds, Fields flips the script, offering an “education” in electricity by virtue of familial association with crime and execution.

The humor also acts as a subtle critique of authority and social structures. It pokes fun at both the pretensions of self-proclaimed “experts” and the often arbitrary ways authority and legitimacy are constructed. By mingling lofty language with grim reality, Fields creates a memorable quip that draws laughter from the collision of highbrow and lowbrow, all while keeping the mood light with his trademark deadpan delivery.