What is the theme of the misanthrope?
The overriding theme of The Misanthrope is honesty and hypocrisy. Alceste, the central character, is a misanthrope because he is disgusted by the hypocrisy that, in his view, characterizes human society. Alceste claims to be the only truly honest person he knows.
How does misanthrope end?
The Misanthrope ends with an unlikely happy ending. Philinte and Éliante are the lucky couple—not Alceste and Célimène. Alceste meets the only end that might bring him peace. In reality, the union of Alceste and Célimène would likely not be a happy ending at all.
What is the setting of the misanthrope?
The Misanthrope is set in the fashionable social milieu of seventeenth-century Paris. Alceste, the misanthrope of the title, is disgusted by the hypocrisy, injustice, and overall corruption in human society.
What is the tone of the misanthrope?
toneIn satirizing French aristocracy, Molière strikes a light, but critical tone. With his deft use of irony, he exposes the hypocrisies of Célimène, her suitors, and the protagonist, Alceste—although Molière’s judgment of Alceste is less severe than his critique of others.
How is Alceste ambiguous?
Alceste’s complete refusal to acquiesce marks his rejection of societal values, however ambiguous those might be. In what is probably Éliante’s most important speech (at the end of II. iv), she introduces the concept of justification. She defines a “man in love” as one who recognizes his lover’s faults as virtues.
What does Alceste do in response to Oronte’s sonnet?
Alceste reacts with disgust as Oronte begins his recitation. Philinte, on the other hand, praises the sonnet. Out of earshot of Oronte, Alceste berates Philinte for flattering the poor writing. When Oronte finishes his recitation, Alceste suggests that he give up writing and stick to what he does best.
Why is the misanthrope a comedy?
The same things that make The Misanthrope a comedy of manners are the things that make it a drama and a satire. Because comedies of manners are more concerned with making fun of some social class than they are with, say, action sequences, they often focus on some conflict that riles up all of the characters’ emotions.
What is the flaw in celimene character that drives Alceste to misanthropy?
Célimène is Alceste’s greatest source of agony: Alceste recognizes that love is his weakness and that he cannot reject Célimène, even though he abhors her behavior.
Who are the characters in Le Misanthrope by Moliere?
Le Misanthrope, satiric comedy in five acts by Molière, performed in 1666 and published the following year. The play is a portrait of Alceste, a painfully forthright 17th-century gentleman utterly intolerant of polite society’s flatteries and hypocrisies. He is hopelessly in love with the coquettish Célimène, as are several other men.
When was The Misanthrope by Moliere first performed?
Behavior of the aristocracy. The Misanthrope, or the Cantankerous Lover ( French: Le Misanthrope ou l’Atrabilaire amoureux; French pronunciation: [lə mizɑ̃tʁɔp u latʁabilɛːʁ amuʁø]) is a 17th-century comedy of manners in verse written by Molière. It was first performed on 4 June 1666 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris by the King’s Players.
Which is the worst flaw in The Misanthrope?
Alceste identifies hypocrisy as one of mankind’s worst flaws. Despite Philinte’s objections, Alceste insists that truth and honesty, no matter how painful, are essential to true integrity.
Who is Alceste in the book The Misanthrope?
Alceste, a French aristocrat, raves to his friend Philinte about the corruption of French society. Alceste identifies hypocrisy as one of mankind’s worst flaws. Despite Philinte’s objections, Alceste insists that truth and honesty, no matter how painful, are essential to true integrity.