Streetcar Essay - Brianna Loo

Brianna Loo

A Streetcar Named Desire Essay

In A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche DuBois arrives at her sister Stella’s home and decides to stay for a while with Stella and her husband Stanley. However, she doesn’t fit in with the people around her and their customs. Blanche’s obvious alienation from the people around her exposes the surrounding society’s assumptions and moral values.

From the start of her visit, Blanche puts up a false front for Stella and Stanley. She acts as if she is a socially high-ranking woman pretending that she has never experienced or seen such a disrespectful life as Stella’s. She proceeds to judge the state of Stella’s living conditions and partner with a daintiness and properness of an individual used to luxury. However, as the play progresses, Blanche’s real life is revealed, depicting her heavy drinking problem, her loss of the family house due to a bank foreclosure, and her past imprudent sexual behavior. But, this false act that Blanche has kept up contrasts the values of her surroundings. Stella and Stanley are very upfront and public about their relationship and home. They do not attempt to hide the flaws of either their unfavorable living conditions or their abusive and purely sexual relationship. Blanche exposes the frank and blunt attitude of her environment by hiding her own life with lies.

Blanche also reveals her surroundings value of loyalty to the husband by divulging to others that she is a widow. Blanche’s past relationship to a young man ended when she found him in bed with another man, exposed and showed her disgust with him being gay, and the man’s consequent suicide. In the society around her, women, such as Stella, show intense loyalty to their husbands, despite the flaws, unfairness, and unhappiness that come with it. Although Stella is abused by her rude and temperamental husband she continually forgives him for his anger and outbursts of violence. However, in Blanche’s case, once she found out about her husband, she immediately discounted him as despicable and pitiful. The contrast between Blanche’s attitude toward her own husband reveals the unending commitment to a husband that Stella’s world values.

Over the course of the play, Blanche reveals that she hopes that a gentleman, Shep, will come and rescue her from her dismal life. Although this event does not happen, she believes and hopes for the perfect man, the chivalrous gentleman to enter her life and become someone with which to share her life. This attitude toward the men she targets blatantly contrasts with the attitudes of the women in the society. Women like Stella settle for coarse, abusive men, putting up with their flaws and believing that they their men are perfect. Blanche’s aim for men is too high for herself, but nonetheless, is higher than Stella’s, outlining the surrounding society’s tendencies to settle.

Blanche’s false act, revulsion of her own husband, and hope for a fairy tale differentiate her attitudes and morals from those in her environment thus, exposing the assumptions and values of her surrounding society.

Misanthrope In-Class Essay [Wylie Period 6]

Written by: Christine Ching

In The Misanthrope by Moliere, society is ridiculed for its corruption and insincerity. Moliere utilizes his characters to represent the hypocritical society and the citizens’ values that clash with the society. Moliere’s characters reveal the dynamics of human nature, the flaws and the ideals, through the use of “thoughtful laughter”. Not only does this play fumble with the comedic nature of humans, it also intertwines with the realization that people laugh at and criticize others when they themselves cannot see the irony.

“Thoughtful laughter” can be a powerful concept and tactic to create an influential literary piece, if it is incorporated correctly, that is. To know the success of the author’s works, readers should feel reflective of themselves after reading the novel or play. It should help readers reevaluate the meanings in life that makes life a journey, the flaws that make humans human and the hypocrisy that is revealed when criticizing others. “Thoughtful laughter” satires yet include the readers on an intellectual level. Moliere captures this essence perfectly in his play.

In Act I Scene II, Oronte expresses himself as a struggling poet that also desires Celimene’s affection. Alceste, who is considered the protagonist of the play, is also competing for Celimene. However, in this scene, Alceste is frustrated with the imperfections of society because his views are not parallel with society’s values. Alceste struggles to fit in with society because he cannot follow what society idealizes, making him unfit to “play the game” of society that is about getting ahead in life. Alceste vents his anger at Oronte as Oronte presents samples of his poetry. Oronte’s poetry is criticized indirectly by Alceste, which Moliere includes to ridicule the French aristocracy. The wealthy, represented by Oronte, have false, blind confidence. They believe that their societal status is almighty and powerful, boosting their ego and covering their eyes from reality. As Alceste continuously provides blunt feedback to Oronte’s poetry, he cannot see the hypocrisy in himself. Alceste believes that society and Oronte are ignorant but Moliere’s actual intention for Alceste’s character is to satirize the society. Alceste is a victim of love and he becomes blinded like the aristocrats, however, he cannot see his ignorance because he is wearing a metaphorical mask to shield himself from his own blemishes.

Moliere uses this mask to show the refusal of human beings to acknowledge their own flaws. This mask can only be lifted by the readers to fully understand Moliere’s message. The acceptance of human flaws is not a simple concept. Alceste is unable to accept his flaws, thus, being rejected by society and causing himself to live in solitude because he ultimately deceives himself.

The Misanthrope Essay- P1, T2

It is a firm principle of theatre that performances must entertain patrons while simultaneously showing them truths about society though hypothetical circumstance. Moliere’s The Misanthrope evokes “thoughtful laughter”, the concept of a humorous exterior plot that allows one to examine the truthful and sometimes harsh interior message throughout the work, by creating exaggerated characters that parody the hypocrisy of human relationships.

Perhaps the most humorous, yet thought-provoking scene in The Misanthrope is act III, sc. V., a scene in which Arsinoe and Celimene have what appears to be a charming and delightful conversation when in reality they are criticizing each other’s every action and flaw. Both women have terrible flaws--Arsinoe is older yet insists on acting and dressing like a young maiden and Celimene is flirtatious, giving her affections to any man who desires it. The women, both enchanted by Alceste’s brash and antisocial nature, banter back and forth as if they were engaging in a coquette tennis match, each lunging at each other to win the match point.

Moliere is a master of polarities, creating characters that are so opposite in nature that any interaction draws out the worst in each character. While the average fellow would see the scene between Arsinoe and Celimene as a traditional French court encounter, one who looks more closely would see that Moliere intentionally makes this interaction humorous in order to entertain the audience as they watch pure, uninterrupted truth unfold right before their eyes.

Humans have a long-standing tradition of being completely cordial to one another in person, but quickly running to spread distrust the minute one turns their back. Perhaps it is a need to be well liked or a craving to boost one’s ego. The same hypocritical relationships are seen when Philinte compliments Oronte’s poem despite his distaste for it and in Celimene’s false and petty connections with her suitors.

In making The Misanthrope a comedy, Moliere successfully entertains the audience while forcing them to examine the follies of human nature. Moliere strategically writes exaggerated characters that, through their interactions, show the hypocritical and disingenuous nature of human relationships. It is much easier to recognize one’s faults when they are presented humorously. Moliere masterfully evokes thoughtful laughter in his examination of human nature which he artfully translates into the theatrical wonder The Misanthrope.

Written by: Sara Patterson

Misanthrope Essay - Wylie Per. 1

In “The Misanthrope”, there is love, betrayal, and deceit, yet it is considered one of the great comedies. Moliere fills the stage with his familiar French society, supplemented with plentiful numbers of suitors and coquettes, trivial court cases, and bittersweet irony. In one of his scenes, the flirt Celimene is exposed as a liar when her numerous suitors read aloud her letters to each other, the content praising the recipient and showing bitter disgust towards the others. Thoughtful laughter results, not only because the manner of her exposure is comedic, but because it mirrors the unsaid selfish desires of mankind.

Act five, scene four consists of Celimene’s many suitors reading to each other her private letters to them. In each, she thouroughly insults another suitor to put the recipient at ease, falsely assuring him that he is the best of the bunch. While each was content with the lie told to him, outrage swelled when the hurtful truth was discovered. Moliere, in this single scene, turned Celimene the Liar into Celimene the Tenderhearted, causing the liarity of the gentlemen’s outrage to evolve into deep thought. Celimene was trying to keep each of her suitors happy, guarding each of their delicate egos with letters of encouragement. Yet her work is meaningless when the men compare letters, and the kindness and softness of her deed is forgotten. Moliere creates this complex, thoughtful laughter towards the scene by questioning the boldness of delicately handling others egos.

Celimene’s actions with the other men in the scene also mirrors real life. People doubt their self-worth, so they constantly ask for affirmations: “Do I look good in this dress?” and “You don’t think I look old, do you?”. Do these people expect and honest reply? Of course not! What they desire is for the sun to continue shining and a brief reply that keeps their egos soaring. Moliere creates a parallel of this human characteristic in the suitors. They are vying so much for Celimene’s love and ask for her honest opinion of them, yet want no honesty. Celimene is instead later chastized for telling theme exactly what they wanted to hear.

Moliere mirrored and innate human characteristic in this scene, exaggerating reactions and actions to make it comedic. But he also instilled the thought of, “What would happen if all of the lies told to keep others happy were exposed?”. This thoughtful laughter causes us to question the very values our society is built upon, and notice how unstable our self-worth and security with ourselves really is.

Miranda Gontz

Misanthrope Essay - Matthew Wong

Wylie. Period 5

In “The Misanthrope” by Moliere, Celimene induces thoughtful laughter in the reader. Her reflection of the French Court and the elite bring out thoughtful laughter. Celimene is a woman who is being courted by many suitors and is also very flirtatious. Moliere paints the picture of Celimene to have hypocritical tendencies and less than ethical social behaviors which causes her in the end to lose many suitors. These characteristics awaken thoughtful laughter in the reader.

Moliere shows Celimene’s most prominent underlying trait to be her hypocrisy. As the reader learns about Celimene, they learn more of how she seems to flirt and flatter every suitor who looks her way. Her hypocritical actions produce some thoughtful laughter through her two-faced ways. Celimene’s hypocrisy also is one of the main driving forces of the play, as her suitors have various reactions to her flirting to move action forward.

As a result of Celimene’s hypocritical ways, Moliere uses Celimene as an example of French Court, and she loses many of her suitors. Celimene as a woman can only truly like one man. Yet she seems to indulge in all men, as a result she speaks ill of every man but one behind their backs. Towards the end of the story, her suitors find out that Celimene has been speaking negatively of them. Moliere seizes this opportunity to incite thoughtful laughter. Moliere makes it so that Celimene’s suitors all leave her and lose interest once they find out of her gossiping actions. Moliere once again uses Celimene and her hypocritical traits to create thoughtful laughter.

Celimene’s less than ethical social behavior shows just how much one can lose. Celimene starts at the top of the French Court, but after her disrespectful social behavior, she drops to the bottom. After she loses all but one of her suitors, Celimene remains confident. Moliere shows Celimene to still have her mind even after her huge downfall. Her primary and last suitor then proposes to Celimene. Moliere induces thoughtful laughter when Celimene rejects his offer to marry and run away. Celimene loses her last suitor and ends up alone in this climatic thoughtful laughter provoking scene. This last act of Celimene proves Celimene to be Moliere’s primary thoughtful laughter creating character.

Celimene inhibits a few characteristics which induce thoughtful laughter. Celimene is extremely hypocritical, and does not have very good social behavior ethics. This causes Celimene to end up alone, and helps to produce thoughtful laughter within the reader. Celimene with her array of hypocritical tendencies is Moliere’s primary character who awakens “thoughtful laughter”.

Misanthrope Essay. Wylie. Period 1

In the play “The Misanthrope” by Moliere, the over-the-top irony and comical entertainment masks the true purpose of this enlightenment era work: to express a truth so obvious and trivial, this otherwise blinding reality cannot possibly be ignored and instead elicits deep reflective thought within the audience. Alceste and Celimene are the two contrasting factors of this irony—factors that are very much relatable, sad and true.

Alceste is at first looked up to in the play. He’s this overly honest, blunt man that the audience almost idolizes. His criticisms are downright hilarious, and the entirety of the audience agrees with him. However, agreeable laughter turns into thoughtful laughter when the audience sees that Alceste—who criticizes hypocrites and in genuine people—is hypocritical himself. He is in love and worships one of the most fake people in the play: Celimene. Of course the irony of the fact is what makes it funny, but deep within, the individual minds of the audience are reaching realizations and recognizing how this mirrors their own lives and reflects their almost “guilty pleasure”. Alceste is still idolized in the play—because honesty and martyr-like qualities are cherished—but the irony of his love for Celimene is there, and it reveals the most common and often ignored dishonesty; dishonesty with oneself.

On the opposite ends of the spectrum, Celimene embodies stark truths and ironies of her own. She is completely fake and overly kind with everyone, but at the end of the play the mean letters she writes about them elicits that same thoughtful laughter within the audience. Many of them could probably reflect on this irony because it mirrors their own relationships with people—fake on the outside, hate on the inside. Moliere really had a special “case” for everyone in the audience to relate to. That was his ultimate purpose in choosing two contrasting ironies and characters to relate these truths so everyone in the audience had something to reflect on.

Moliere’s purpose in evoking thoughtful laughter within his audience is because it is the most effective tool in bringing about individual improvement. Moliere wanted society to change and to realize the error is its ways. But the only way to do that is to start with the individual. No one wants to be told what to do, so the will to change must be discovered on one’s own. Thoughtful laughter evokes the reflection and realization needed to drive change in a person’s perception and ultimate behavior. Sometimes humor needs to be overly ironic because it serves as the only bridge for the truth to get across. It’s like this huge ugly thing that society tries to cover up. But once that thing is wearing a clown suit, it’s hard not to look, not to face it and frankly, not to laugh.

Lillie Moffett.

Misanthrope - Alexander P

Through out The Misanthrope Moliere demonstrates the use of satirical dialogue as comedy. Moliere shows characters that portray relatable and realistic characters, full of flaws. As the audience we insert our own lives in to the play, finding amusement and pleasure. Celemine embodies a generally unseen aspect of literature, the flirt. Her playfulness evokes a trait that we all have and show in varying degrees. It is her personality, her drama the carries the show and gives it meaning. This new thoughtful laughter began with Moliere and carries through to all modern literature.

In Celemine we see ourselves. The self questioning that ensues is this thoughtful laughter. This is the second thought, the meaning of Moliere’s work. The genius does not begin in the original dialogue; it lies in the interpretation and connection each individual finds in it. The boldness and brashness of Celemine is admired by some, but many also find her to be a slut or a harlot. We now call this slut-shamming, which is the societal persecution of women and men who are sexual. But this is part of the personal connection, some may laugh at her, finding her a joke and pathetic; while others will be envious of her and design themselves after her. This thought provoking subject within Celemine truly transforms The Misanthrope.

Celemine drives the action forward. Pulling the men along as she manipulates and toys with them. Exerting full control over their simple desires of her attention, she holds the power. This power she controls evokes the men’s flaws. Not only does she cause her surrounding characters to question themselves, but she causes the audience member to question their relation to the characters.

Moliere saw what he could do with everyday characters and used them to connect to the public. His thought provoking literature, instilled within Celemine transforms The Misanthrope from a memorable play, into a timeless one.

A Streetcar Named Desire Essay - Montane Silverman - Asher Period 3

Tennessee Williams in the play A Streetcar Named Desire takes the values of Southern society and portrays them with the aide of the character, Blanche DuBois. Through Blanche’s alienation from the culture and society of the South, she reveals the reliance on men by women and the importance of reputation and character in Southern society.

During the time of the play, men took on the role of a dominant head of the family. A man was expected to take charge and support their wife. From a woman’s perspective, it was a necessity to have a man because he took care of the money and satisfied the woman’s need for security and care. For example, Stella stated that, “Stanley doesn’t give me a regular allowance, he likes to pay bills himself” (4-79). It was the social norm for a man to provide for a woman. Through Blanche’s desperateness for a husband, Williams is able to emphasize the significance of a man. Blanche exaggerates this dependence on men. When asked why she wants a man, Blanche replies, “I want to rest! I want to breathe quietly again! Yes – I want Mitch… very badly! Just think! If it happens! I can leave here and not be anyone’s problem…” (5-85). Blanche’s alienated mind set leads her to believe that with a man comes the solutions to all of her problems, with a man comes the end of all her worries. Through the overly dramatic actions that Blanche takes to attract men, Williams is able to show how women of this time hold men in a higher light. Williams illustrates how men where elevated, in the mind of woman, to the essential role of provider of needs.

As Blanche searched for a man to answer all her problems, she underlined the societal importance of reputation. Through Williams’ descriptions, Blanche comes across as a vain character, trying to hide her shameful past by attempting to look young. Blanche does not fit into society because she is unable to take pride within herself. Instead, Blanche focuses on trying to hide her outer appearance. For example, when a light is turned on, Blanche cries, “And turn that over-light off! Turn that off! I won’t be looked at in this merciless glare!” (1-75). It is later revealed that Blanche has a reputation of sleeping around. Blanche denies this by stating, “I’m afraid he does have me mixed up with this ‘other party.’ The Hotel Flamingo is not the sort of establishment I would dare to be seen in!” (5-38). The news of her sinful acts spread and Blanche loses a potential husband because of it. Blanche is thus separated from society by her humiliating acts. Williams uses Blanche to show the effects and significance of reputation in the South.

By looking at the people who are not accepted into a society, such as Blanche DuBois, one is able to see what that society values. Williams uses this technique to subtly portray characteristics of culture that would not have made it into the story otherwise. The character of Blanche brings out important societal principles such as the importance of men and reputation in the South. Even as Blanche is living in her own fantasy world, she is able to reveal deep social traits about Southern society.

Misanthrope essay

Erica Trinh
In the play Misanthrope by Moliere, Alceste is described as being a man with high standards. He believes that everyone should be honest and constantly criticizes society for being superficial. His crude comments about society and the people who belong to it often invoke laughter at the expense of others, such as Oronte. However, his hypocrisy to break the very same codes he preaches causes readers to reassess the way people view the standard of society, ultimately creating “thoughtful laughter” in readers.

In the opening scene, Alceste discusses with Philinte his dislike for how society works. He believes that people are too superficial and often criticizes them for that. To him, people should all live honest lives, and should never lie to other about their flaws even if it is considered rude to tell the truth. When Oronte asks Alceste to judge a poem he had written, Alceste doesn’t hold back all the faults he sees with the Oronte’s poem. As Alceste bashes Oronte’s poem, readers cannot help but to laugh at the two’s bantering. This laughter that is created as Oronte’s expense reveals to readers how truly strict is in his code of honesty and in how he views people.

Alceste’s tendency to criticize others create humor but when it is revealed that Alceste reveals loves Celimene, Moliere causes readers to rethink how one views one’s value. Alceste hypocrisy of loving such a superficial woman even when it goes against everything he hates shows how one shouldn’t always be too critical of others. It also makes one think about how easy it is for people to judge others and criticize them for their flaws but not themselves. Alceste’s inability to let go of Celimene despite the fact that she knows she betrayed him adds to Moliere’s theme that everyone has a flaw. Although Alceste prides himself in being honest about other people’s flaws, it was important for him to realize his own and to realize that it is better to accept the flaws of other rather than criticize them.

Alceste’s humorous comments on other people’s flaws may have caused laughter but it is his hypocrisy that changes this laughter into thoughtful laughter. In the end, Moliere’s use of Alceste’s downfall as a way to causes people to reassess themselves and to truly think about their own flaws before they criticize others for theirs.

Macbeth Essay- Jane Lu; Asher P2

Macbeth Essay

by Jane Lu (Asher Period 2, Team 1)

Prompt: In Shakespeare's Macbeth man's perception of fate affects man's actions. In a carefully organized essay discuss how Shakespeare uses the device of characterization of clarify this perception and drive the action forward.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare can essentially be summarized as a story that tells how Macbeth’s perception of fate affects his actions. Macbeth sees fate as something that cannot be changed; but, a person can mold their actions in order to give their best attempt to speed up or avoid fate from coming. Such perception also drives the action forward and is clarified by the devices of characterization: thru what Macbeth says and thru his actions.

The first time Macbeth meets the three witches, they hail him as the thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor, and “king hereafter.” Later Macbeth, although at first skeptical of the prophecy, starts to believe it when Ross and Angus come and tell him that he has been named the thane of Cawdor. Macbeth knows that fate is set in stone and eventually he will be named king as he boldly states that if “chance will have me king,” “chance [will] crown me without my stir.” However, Macbeth finally “screws [his] courage,” after much encouragement from Lady Macbeth, and kills King Duncan. Because of his action, Macbeth is not only named King of Scotland, but he also realizes that fate can indeed be sped up to come more quickly. Had Macbeth waited for “chance [to] have [him] king,” it might have taken months, or even more years, for him to obtain the throne.

Macbeth becoming king indeed moves the plot forward as the reader sees his personality become darker and colder as he is afraid of losing his throne. However, when he goes to see the witches again, they tell him that he will be overthrown when Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. Macbeth knows that his fate cannot be avoided as his reactions to Lady Macbeth’s death reveal this. He nonchalantly states that “she should have died hereafter” since “there would have been a time for such a word” and believes that his own fate will be coming at him sooner or later. But, that is not to say that Macbeth does not believe he can attempt to try to avoid his fate from coming. His action of ordering murders to attack Macduff’s castle in order to kill his children and wife demonstrates a fruitless attempt to prevent Macduff from going to England to bring back the right heir to the throne. But such an action also sparks a dire need for revenge against Macbeth in Macduff’s heart and thus it can also be the said to be the reason why Macduff is so intent on killing Macbeth near the end of the play.

The actions of Macbeth and the statements clarify the perception of fate as something that is pre-written and cannot be avoided no matter how hard a character tries to avoid it. However, as Macbeth realizes in the play, a character can try to speed up his fate from coming or slow it down. Consequently, it could also be said that such a perception also affects man’s actions because it is Macbeth’s perception on fate that determines the actions—such as killing King Duncan and Macduff—he takes.

Thoughtful Laughter essay

Xi Zhao (Lucy)
Period 5
Wylie

Thoughtful laughter
essay

In the play
Misanthrope, there’s a scene when Alceste beg Celimene to tell him that she
didn’t write a letter to Oronte. He said he would fell better if she said that
letter is for a women. When I saw this scene, I laughed and I am surprised by
how ridiculous he could be. He would rather lie to himself then face the truth.

People
sometimes act the same way as Alceste does. Phen Philinte told him that he
attempting to find fault theories of human relationships, what he means is that
Alceste covered his eyes with lies to avoid the fault of Celimene. Everyone
else knows that Celimene is not the type of women who is going to put all her
love to one guy. Even Alceste said that “Celimene might be expressing her love
to there suitors as well.” After all those people’s suggestions about how his
relationship might not turn out the way he think it could be, and it might not
last, he still going toward the wrong path.

Even after Eliante told him that she allow herself to fall
in love for him even though she might just be a second choice. Alceste still
didn’t make the right decision. He don’t want to face the truth that Celimene
doesn’t really love him. Celimene clearly said that he does not deserve her
love.

Alceste
want to try last time, he is about to move away because Du Bois told him that
he heard that Alceste is in danger of arrest. Before he leave, he asked
Celimene to come with him. He knows that Celimene would not like to withdraw
from the society, so he want her to say yes to prove that she love him.
Seriously, he still lie to himself about something that’s clear enough it is
impossible. He is afraid to face the truth, because she is all he has.
Actually, he think that he only have her. He can’t see that he have and deserve
more then that. He is young, rich and attractive and even Eliante love him. Why
can’t he reach for something that is reasonable/

This theory is so true
and it happens to all of us. People naturally want something that is hard or
even impossible to get to satisfy their desire. Some people work harder to
reach this goal but on the other hand, some people hust lose hope and give up
on themselves. The best way to accomplish something is to do what you can so
and just enjoy the prcess. Because you probably gain so much more even you
didn’t realize.

Misanthrope Essay - Tori Kause

Tori Kause

Wylie

Period 1

Misanthrope Essay

Prompt: From The Misanthrope choose a scene or a character who awakens "thoughtful laughter" in the reader. Write a carefully organized essay in which you show why this laughter is "thoughtful" and how it contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.

In Moliere's The Misanthrope, a French society displays the characteristics and comedies of the Enlightenment era. The main character, Alceste, who is also known as the "misanthrope", is a sullen yet opinionated man. Alceste's character summons thoughtful laughter through his dialogue and actions, contributing to the meaning of the work as a whole. Alceste is set apart from other characters in this comedy because of his attitude and his range of emotion.

Almost the entirety of the play is spent building up tension and choices that Alceste is forced to deal with. His lawsuit adds stress to his life, and his conflicted love interest, Celimene, causes him even greater turmoil due to her coquetry. Alceste claims to be a man in love, but he is one of the many men Celimene sees and "cares" for. In Act V, Scene VII, Celimene is forced to decide on the suitor she cares for most. Alceste asks her to marry him, which she refuses; as an ordinary man would feel, Alceste feels angered and upset. Yet when Celimene changes her mind and decides to marry him, Alceste outright declines Celimene. Their constantly changing feelings for each other is what illicits the thoughtful laughter. The laughter is "thoughtful" because whether the setting is the Enlightenment era or the twenty-first century, society finds it difficult to make decisions and stick to them. Also, feelings tend to change; for example, Alceste claimed to be in love with Celimene despite her numerous amount of suitors. At her moment of refusal, one would think his "love" would make him do anything to have Celimene marry him. However, his surprising action, denying her love when she changes her mind, evokes thoughtful laughter because their confused feelings for each other never quite seem to mesh together.

Alceste's failure with love is the thoughtful laughter of the play. It contributes to the work as a whole because not only does Alceste experience the ups and downs of love. Love is part of the theme in The Misanthrope which contributes to the main focus of the thoughtful laughter. Alceste's experiences are the driving forces behind many of the other characters' actions and brings about the comedy despite his depressing situations. The fluctuating emotions, jealousy, rage, kindness, are what make the play a comedy. Alceste, although quite negative, tries to remain so throughout the play.

Moliere's comedy, The Misanthrope, opens society's eyes to the silliness of live events and how the majority of the time life is not taken seriously. However, Alceste's severe seriousness is also comical because it shows that people need to find a balance; they can laugh, but they also need to be serious and think about situations, people or places. Thoughtful laughter is important today, and Moliere captured that significance despite the fact he wrote The Misanthrope over three hundred years ago.

Romantic Synthesis

Romantic Synthesis Question
Dylan Mulcahy James Jin Jenny Zhan Caleb Ong Amber Austin Period 6, Wylie Team 3
The desire for freedom from the restrictions of classicism and rigidly ordered society had been heavily emphasized during the Romantic period. Even though the Romantics still embraced the Renaissance tradition of ennobling of the common man, they rebelled against the old tendencies of conforming to the narrow-mindedness of organized religion instead focusing on inner spirituality and imagination. Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People is a prime example of Romantic period paintings that embraced a secular glorification of the human condition. As seen in the piece, the fascination of heroes in Romantic art ties in cohesively with the French Revolution and glorifying the common man. The woman in the center of the painting displays an aesthetic beauty that is traditional with the Renaissance period and nature’s clouds are dispersing to further display her significance within the Romantic piece. What also should be noted though, is that even though she is a common woman, she has been made a heroine who is unifying the people of France under her banner and displays great spiritual significance and liberty as they storm the aristocratic Bastille. The reason it isn’t aesthetic beauty associated with organized is because of the spiritual aspect of the painting is entirely nondenominational and depicts her more as an equivalent to common people than overtly superior. In all, this piece has become one of the most well known classics of Romantic period painting because not only does it resonate with so many viewers, yet it emanates the Romantic style of art. (250 Words)

Romantic synthesis (Wylie P1 T1)

The Romantic period (1750-1837) began in Western Europe around mid 1700s and continued onto the early 1800s. Unlike those who lived during the Enlightenment Era who proclaimed radical science proofs and reasoning, people of the Romantic Era embraced strong emotions such as horror, gothic, or love. They incorporate their strong feelings and combine them with their passions into their love of the natural world to create their unique style of expressing themselves. Idealism was favored for it is the perfect way to allow the expressing of Romantics’ desire for a life that is different than the previous. Their imagination influences their creation for the arts, such as music, drawing, literature and more. While different from the Enlightenment Era, they mixed reason with feeling. Approximately in the early 19^th century, Beethoven started to compose in a way the no others had done before. In 1824, one of his famous pieces, Symphony No.9 was created. The piece was well known for its complications for the fact that Beethoven brought in several vocalists with addition chorus while the orchestra plays the piece; he explains that music alone couldn’t express his feelings to the fullest. Many other artists viewed Beethoven as their example and began to experiment with their pieces with freer styles than before. Visual artists also started to create paintings that are evolutionary; they combined spiritual feelings with their fascination of nature by soften the image they were trying to create and let the audiences’ emotions and imagination take place. One example of such work is Steamer in a Snowstorm by Joseph M. W. Turner. This style is later known as Impressionism, which the colors used and the feeling expressed are more important than the actual objects in the piece.

Ashley Chang, Diana Kim, Justin Park, Jenny Yu