Misanthrope Essay

In Moliere’s comedy, The Misanthrope, Miliere invokes a thoughtful laughter, deep ridicule in oneself, to contribute to the full meaning of his work. He uses the speaking patterns of the characters, the response to admiration, and private conversations to display his mastery of understanding the truth about society.

Although society is indicted, Alcest’s criticisms are justified through thoughtful laughter. In Act 1 Scene 2, he insults the style of the sonnets of a friend. Not acceptable in the public eye, this rude comment enrages others due to the mannerism of the era although they too do the same in privacy. Humorously, this is also true in our own society. In hearing others speak differently then ourselves, we too would like to criticize their words. However, we are too used to how our society functions as a ladder towards status and reputation that we do not bluntly tell the truth. Thus, the thoughtful laughter comes in where we realize that we had just chastised Alcest for actions that we too would do.

In addition to that, The Misanthrope also has a scene where Celimene wonders how she should treat her admirers. In a conversation in Act 2 Scene 1, she wondres if she would just beat them with a stick and tell them to leave. The insincerity of Celimene, although it is exemplary for the certain era, brings laughter because Moliere understands that many woman violate the rules of a lady. In regards to today’s society, many women also act in this particular manner. The thoughtful part of laughter comes in when people realize that the they too are indignant and harsh to others while being gentle to themselves just like Celimene.

My final point is how the private conversations wits the public conversations. In Act 2 Scene 5, Alcest, Citandra, and Acaste gossip about their friends. They laugh and make fun of people such as Damon who seemed to talk forever. Though this conversation brings humor, it makes fun of the mannerism of the era in which one rude to leave while one was speaking. Unusually, of the many actions that Moliere jokes about, this one is one that has changed over time. In our society, we now interrupt others or leave them mid sentence. The thoughtful laughter comes in when we realize that we public interrupt our friends and refuse to listen although it is considered rude.

Moliere is able to use thoughtful laughter to contribute to his work because he is able to lead people to realize that while they are laughing at the characters in The Misanthrope, they are also laughing at themselves.