Through Celimene and Arsinoe's battle of wits and insults, Moliere relates a deep "thoughtful" laughter" that reveals the follies of society and the rich in Moliere's The Misanthrope. As both women vehemently spew insults in thinly veiled polite banter, the judgemental, vanity, and superficial qualities of the French society during the Enlightenment is revealed.
As Arsinoe begins her remarks of Celimene's coquett-ish ways with her many suitors and imposes a deep negative tone to Celimene's actions, the high regard for a woman's status in marriage is seen. Through Celimene's flirtacious ways, readers understand the society as one interested in social standing and the appeal of having many suitor. Celimene's retorts back with Arsinoe's old age, lack of suitors, and bitterness with ones who are younger and more attractive. Celimene and Arsinoe's remarks elicit a "thoughtful laughter" as they argue over trivial and superficial matters with great zeal. The thoughtful laughter comes from the complete unremarkableness of their argument, as Celimene praises beauty and young age while Arsinoe jealously points out Celimene as worthless once she ages. Their trivial argument initially causes laughter from the portrayal of an "Enlightenment cat fight", then draws out the broad, superficial way of society as a whole, which is the whole ponit of The Misanthrope. Moliere attempts to highlight the trivialness of the French high class through satire and comedy, through trivial events themselves, such as Arsinoe and Celimene's argument over beauty, youth, and suitors.
Moliere intends for readers to scoff and laugh at the vain personalities of Celimene and Arsinoe, as well as to understand the ridiculousness and trivialness of such superficial beliefs.
(Cece Zhu) period 3
dibs yo
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