Hyrum Judkins' Misanthrope Essay ~Wylie Period 1

In Moliere's The Misanthrope he uses Alceste to awaken "thoughtful laughter" in the readers. Through Alceste's personality and quest for Celimene's love. Moliere revieals issues in society and that an individual is never excempt from human tendencies.

Alceste is in constant conflict with society because of his bold and burtely honest personality. From the get go the reader is throwen into a debate between Alceste and Philinte about honesty. The reader quickly finds out that Alceste is is loud and honest, but he is also conceded and superficial life many of the other french aristocrats; these are qualities he despisded.

Alceste fell blindy in love with the sly Celimene and her superfical flirations. He was infatuated by her beauty and young age. Despite many warning from his friends Alceste pursued her. Moliere chose to foil these two characters because the both place a high value on superficial ideals of wealth, status, apperance, and youth. At this point Moliere begins to address his issue with society's hypocrisy.

When Alceste's quest for Celimene's love comes to a conclusion the honest truth about about human tendencies. Alceste had had his heart broken when Celimene's private letters, that were speaking negativly about her suites were read publicly. Alceste than comes to accept that his love is unrequited and he did not want to hear the truth. Moliere, through Alceste's love chase exlpains that human tendencies are not excempt from an inidividual, that hypocristy is part of human nature and humans's will go to extreme lengths to achieve their goals.

In The Misanthrope Moliere brings out "thoughtful laughter" through the irony abd hypacritical actions of Alceste. Moliere makes a crystal clear point of this to show that the accepts is as part of human nature, but does not condone this as a moral value.