Prompt: From The Misanthrope, choose a scene that/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.
What is “thoughtful laughter?” The term almost defines itself. Thoughtful laughter is when a situation utilizes amusement or humor as a means to provoke reflection. Satire often humorously mocks a person or situation in order to bring attention to its faults. In The Misanthrope, by Moliere, there are countless scenes and characters that awaken “thoughtful laughter” in the reader. This essay, however, will focus on one character, Arsinoe. Arsinoe is an elderly woman, most likely in her fifties or sixties. She is part of the royal court of King Louie XIV and is very proud of it. Arsinoe is one of the characters in the play who invokes the most thoughtful laughter in the audience. Celimene, the main female character in the play, describes Arsinoe as an old prude. However, throughout the play, it is hited at that the only reason Arsinoe is a prude is because she cannot find a lover. Not only is this idea satirical, it actually represents the ideology of many members of the French court during Moliere's time. Arsinoe is very sensitive about the fact that she cannot get a lover. When she is conversing with Alceste, she insists on and on again that Celimene does not satisfy him and that he would be better off courting some other girl. This makes Alceste respond with an insult, saying that even if he did try to seduce another girl, it would never be Arsinoe. This enrages her and causes her to snap back at Alceste, telling him that he couldn't have her even if he tried. This satiric moment shows that not only is Arsinoe sensitive about the topic of love, but she also has a vast amount of “false pride” to show others. Arsinoe also seems to be characterized as someone who likes gossiping with others. When she arrives to talk to Celimene, she brings information to try and hurt Celimene's feelings and ruin her reputation in the court. Moliere seems to imply that members of the court really didn't have anything better to do with their lives. They have no care for the rest of the 99% of citizens who have actual problems to deal with. Instead, they waste their time gossiping and getting involved in personal conflicts. He uses this trivial but comical situation to indirectly show the readers the truth about the “prestigious” court. Moliere was an avant-garde writer who's work pushed the boundaries between fiction and reality. He was not only a brilliant writer and poet, but also was able to convey a vast amount of information through his works. The whole idea of thoughtful laughter is ingenious. The best way to convey a point is to make someone laugh. Moliere was able to educate his audiences, reveal the ugly truth about the French court, and entertain his audiences. Through one of the main characters, Arsinoe, he is able to show the vanity and insecurity of the upper class. The Misanthrope is such a powerful piece of literature. It might have even indirectly sparked the French revolution that occurred years later.
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