TITLE: The Misanthrope

AUTHOR: Molière
1ST PUBLICATION: 1st performed 1666
THEATRICAL ERA: Neoclassicism & French Theatre

GENRE: Comedy of Manners

CHARACTERS:
Alceste: Alceste is the misanthrope referred to in the title. Throughout the play, he expresses his
disgust with the dishonesty, hypocrisy, corruption, and lack of justice in society, claiming that he
himself at least is completely frank and honest in all of his social interactions. Célimène:
A young woman who is the object of desire of several men in The Misanthrope. Célimène is the
center of attention for much of the play. Her suitors—Alceste, Oronte, Acaste, and Clitandre—all seek
her affection, yet she makes no firm commitment to any of them. Célimène is happy and confident,
but not without fault; she loves to gossip, and she is critical of nearly everyone she meets. She is
careless in her insults, and she ultimately stirs the ire of those who once loved her. Célimène seems to
enjoy life for the most part, but she is unwilling to give herself over to the conventions and decorum
of her society. Philinte: A polite and tactful man who
is well adapted to the society of the play. Philinte, who avoids the type of offensive
straightforwardness that characterizes Alceste, is almost so well adjusted as to come across as boring.
Philinte lacks cleverness but is selfless. Philinte is the straight man to the absurd and often comically
disgruntled Alcest. Éliante: The object of Philinte's romantic
attentions. Éliante possesses a deep understanding of the French society in which she lives. She also
demonstrates a keen insight into the relationship between the sexes and occasionally offers a witty
critique of how men in love behave. Éliante is loving and compassionate, if a bit confused about
where her own desires lie. Éliante is not shy, as she expresses her opinions of others when the
situation demands it. Éliante has found a point of balance between propriety and conformity.
Oronte: An outspoken man who seeks to be an integral part of his society. Experimenting with
poetry, Oronte fashions himself a multi-talented man, though the mediocrity of his poem calls this
particular talent into question. Though he appears confident, he reveals his insecurities. He cares very
much about what people think of him. Arsinoé: A
bitter woman who is older, unattractive, unpleasant, and thus unable to attract men. Arsinoé masks her
frustration with extreme manners and piety. She is openly critical of Célimène out of jealousy, as she
herself seeks the love of Alceste. Acaste: A young and egotistical
marquis. Acaste considers himself a prime candidate for the role of Célimène's lover. He is unabashed
in singing his own praises, which may explain his confusion and frustration over Célimène's rejection.
Clitandre: Another marquis chasing Célimène's love. Clitandre seems less desperate than the other
suitors for her affection. Du
Bois: Alceste's jittery, bumbling manservant. Du Bois's comic subservience to Alceste is a major
element of the farcical nature of The Misanthrope. Out of nervousness in trying to tell Alceste
everything, Du Bois actually says virtually nothing. Du Bois is of little help to his master, regardless
of his good intentions. Basque: Célimène's
manservant. Basque, a minor character, is loyal to his mistress, promptly announcing the arrival of her
visitors. Officer: A messenger of the Marshals
of France. The Officer requests that Alceste present himself before the Marshals to justify his insult to
Oronte's poem.

EVENTS:
- Alceste, the misanthrope, explains to Philinte that he hates mankind because there is so much
hypocrisy, deceit, and false flattery in the world that he can't find a man who will speak the
truth openly.
- Philinte asks Alceste to be more tolerant because it is a part of human nature to flatter other
people and to enjoy a certain amount of gossip. At this point, a fashionable man about town,
Oronte, appears and asks Alceste to evaluate a poem he has just written.
- Alceste reads the poem and gives Oronte an honest answer. The poem is wretched and Oronte
should give up trying to write poetry. Oronte, who has asked for an honest answer, is insulted
when Alceste speaks frankly, and leaves in an indignant huff.
- Philinte points out to Alceste that his honesty has created an enemy, when a little innocent
flattery would have won him a friend.
- When Alceste meets Célimène, the woman he loves, he immediately begins to reproach her
for her flirtatious behavior. He dislikes the fact that she treats all people with the same charm
and grace.
- She tells him that it is better to treat all people equally than for her to closet herself and heap
all her favors on one person.
- In the midst of the argument, two fops, Acaste and Clitandre, arrive, followed by Philinte and
Eliante, a woman of good reasonable sense. The fops immediately begin gossiping about
various members of the court, and to Alceste's chagrin, Célimène joins in the gossip by
castigating every person who is mentioned.
- Alceste cannot tolerate this, and tries to stop the performance.
- Shortly afterward, an officer arrives with a summons for Alceste. He is to appear before the
court of the marshals because of his comments about Oronte's poem.
- A servant announces the arrival of Arsinoé a lady of society. When the fops leave, Arsinoé
pretends to inform Célimène of the gossip being spread about her. In turn, Célimène tells
Arsinoé what is being said about her.
- When Alceste arrives, Célimène excuses herself and leaves Arsinoé and Alceste together.
Immediately, Arsinoé begins flattering Alceste and offers to show him proof that Célimène is
false to him.
- Eliante admits that she admires a man who sticks to his opinion so firmly. Philinte then
confesses his love for Eliante and his own desire for her hand if she does not become involved
with Alceste.
- When Alceste arrives, he is in a rage against Célimène for being false.
- Arsinoé has given him a love letter which appears to be from Célimène to someone else.
When he confronts Célimène with the proof, she simply ignores it and suggests that it might
have been written to a woman and not a man.
- Later, Alceste is complaining to Philinte about the injustice in human society: He has indeed
lost his lawsuit even though his case was a just one. He decides that he will retire from
mankind and live in solitude.
- When Célimène comes in accompanied by Oronto, both men insist that she choose one of
them. She avoids making a choice and before the two men can force her, Clitandre and
Acaste, arrive with incriminating letters which Célimène has written.
 - In these letters, she made derogatory remarks about all of the gentlemen. The fops leave,
promising to publish her perfidy to all of society. Oronte also gives up his suit to Célimène.
- Left alone with Alceste, Célimène acknowledges her mistake and offers her hand to Alceste if
he will still have her. He then tells her that he wants to retire from society and wants her to
join him in solitude. But Célimène cannot forego society, and at this point Alceste is cured of
his love for Célimène and dismisses her. He then promises to live alone and rail against all of
society and mankind.

THEMES: The Hypocrisies of Social Behavior, Human Flaws, The Irrationality of Love,
Honesty
IMAGERY: Oronte's Poem, Célimène's House