Misanthrope Essay

If the true test of comedy is the evoking of thoughtful laughter, as George Meredith suggests, then The Misanthrope is surely that. Moliere’s story contains messages that are true not only for the setting but are true among the universal human experience. Moliere mocks through the device of his own characters the very human fallibilities that mar us all.

The character, Alceste, is very easy to define through his unwavering commitment to certain mannerisms and values. He will stop at no length to be as direct and honest as he possibly can. He directly criticizes Oronte for his poor writing abilities and is very blunt with his wife that he suspects her unfaithfulness to him. It is very ironic then, that the woman he has married and loves, Celimene, is so self-absorbed and eager to speak poorly behind others’ backs. It seems odd that these characters, which so poorly compliment each other, should be an item of romantic interest. This bit of situational irony seems to evoke a sense of thoughtful laughter in the audience, who cannot help but to wonder why Moliere would, so intentionally, make it so.

It requires some thought to dissect this relationship, and to better understand why Alceste would yearn for such an egocentric woman. The truth is that Moliere is making a statement about human nature through satire. One can infer that Alceste is especially stubborn in not changing his temperament. However, the author is implying that despite his commitment to being blunt and open with people, as a human, Alceste is not free from human fallibilities. He desires a woman who, by all means, is his antithesis. A similar form of thoughtful laughter can be evoked from the writings of Chaucer, who makes a social commentary about the sinful engagements of the Church. No commitment, obligation or act of stubbornness can prevent one from drifting out of line. No one is perfect. It is human nature to have certain faults, and not even Alceste can escape it.

The idea that no human is infallible is the central theme of The Misanthrope. The thought becomes even more pronounced against the setting of upper-class members of French society, who have a sense of self-perfection among themselves. However, the theme is timeless and universal; yet it requires a sense of thoughtful laughter to fully understand this.

-Wilson Muller