Misanthrope Essay

Ivy Arbolado

Period 1

The Misanthrope Essay: “Thoughtful Laughter”

In the play “The Misanthrope,” written by Moliere, “thoughtful laughter,” is conveyed by the unpredictable and abnormal actions of an overcritical man known as Alceste. When it comes to Celimene, his current lover, his pessimistic and untrusting ways slowly diminish during his quest to win over her heart. He finds faith and loyalty in others throughout his journey, which he too couldn’t fathom.

Alceste’s love for Celimene was indescribable. His love deemed true to her, as well as many other suitors. Celimene had given her love away to several men, without remorse. With this information, Alceste was bitter, yet he still desired to be with her. He even asked for her hand in marriage. Even though he sees the negativity in most, ironically he could not in her. He put his faith in her that she will one day pick him as his only suitor, therefore awakening humor in the reader.

While forcing Celimene to make her decision of who will be her only love, Alceste grew tired of waiting, as well as Oronte, the other suitor who Alceste rudely belittled after seeing his poetic works. Both men developed a friendship with each other given that they both respect each other’s love for Celimene. Alceste feels loyal to Oronte and they both agree that whomever she picks, the other will back off politely. When Celimene finally agreed to be wed to Alceste, he rejected her after talking to Oronte, realizing that he no longer wants her. The irony in this situation is humorous because Alceste’s motives change due to a change of loyalty and his friendship with Oronte, the man who he once despised.

Alceste’s love for Celimene changed his perspective of others as well as himself. His overcritical and pessimistic ways was overshadowed by his compassion for Celimene and his loyalty and friendship with Oronte. He learned to have faith in others whom he thought would never be worthy of his loyalty, thus evoking “thoughtful laughter.”

Macbeth Essay- Period 4 Asher

Marika Stanford-Moore

December 7, 2011

Period 4

Macbeth essay

In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Macbeth follows the prophecies that the witches have foretold him. Believing that his fate has been established, the prophecies lead Macbeth to take actions and to mistakenly assume he is immune from his evil deeds. In the play, sisters or witches determine the fate of Macbeth (only once are they referred to as witches in the play, but mostly called “weird” coming from the Old English term of “wyrd”, meaning fate). The “weird sisters” prophecies shaped Macbeth’s destiny and controlled his actions, leading him to commit murder and tyrannous acts.

Macbeth was intrigued by the prophecies since the first time that he encountered the witches. Shakespeare describes him as being ‘rapt’, deeply engrossed in his fate. In Act One, the witches prophesize that Macbeth will become king; although it was Macbeth’s idea to kill Duncan to secure his spot as the future king. Macbeth would not have killed Duncan if he’d had no prophecy of becoming king. His perception of fate affected his actions. The witches’ prophecies lead him to his downfall. Shakespeare characterizes Macbeth as egotistical and overly confident, as well as easily manipulated by Lady MacBeth. When Macbeth hears the prophecy that he will be king until the forest moves to the castle at Dunsinane and that he cannot be killed from any man born of a woman, he is overly confident that he is immune to mortal danger. When the army carries trees to hide themselves and Macduff is able to kill Macbeth because he was born from cesarean section, Macbeth has finally followed his fate to his death because of his own perceived actions causing the prophecy to come true.

Although it is argued that the witches determine Macbeth’s fate, their prophecies only tell him what the future will be. The witches do not tell him how he will become king, but Macbeth analyzes the prophecies with his own ambitions and ego clouding his judgment into convincing himself that after murdering Duncan in order to be king himself he will be immune to all other threats to him Therefore, the witches have merely foretold Macbeth’s fate, causing him to believe he has to act upon his prophecies in order for his fate to come true. Before each of his treacherous actions, MacBeth considers his options and debates with himself the right course of actions. He seems to believe that he is acting of his own free will; helped by the information the weird sisters gave him. In MacBeth, Shakespeare is trying to show that a person may sometimes believe his future lies in his own hands, and sometimes is fate.

Macbeth Essay Period 3

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth has always been the subject of discussion, with its versatile yet striking themes of superstition and fate. Shakespeare incorporates many literary devices, specifically characterization, in order to shape the idea of how man’s perception of fate affects man’s actions. This central theme is predominantly seen in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, with the former seeing the witches’ prophecies as a herald to his ascension and doom and with the latter seeing her provincial path she has to take to become a queen. Shakespeare’s characterization explains the paths they take in order to fulfill what they believe of their destiny, as illustrated by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

After hearing the witches’ first prophecy come true that he will be Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth’s perception is that the witches are his indicators of the future. Because of his mentality, he decides to put his trust to them, as seen in Macbeth’s ordeal with the seven apparitions. In the end of the play, Macbeth grows arrogant and dubious in the face of certain demise since he places his mentality and trust in the witches’ prophecies. He believes that these heralds are so ludicrous that it makes him feel invincible and affects his actions into becoming a ruthless tyrant. His embodied haughtiness that Shakespeare characterizes him produces negative outcomes and ultimately his death.

Unlike Macbeth and his open-ended interpretation that the witches’ prophecies will make him invincible and oblivious to all harm, Lady Macbeth has a set path that she forces herself to take to becoming queen. After reading the letter Macbeth had sent her, she instantly develops a narrow-minded plan to help Macbeth become king so she can be a queen, which is to kill Duncan. She had never thought of other alternatives, such as a probable cause that Duncan might die eventually and Macbeth might be king in another turn of events, and allows her perception to control her. Because she is embodied with a narrow-minded ambition as well as a fiery motivation, Lady Macbeth has her perception dominated by what she believes in as morals. She eventually suicides and ends up in a fate similar to that of Macbeth.

Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s characterization ultimately clarifies their reason for their actions, with the former as arrogant and the latter as ambitious. Though they had different reasons for what they did throughout the play, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plummeted towards their demise in a series of events dictated by their personalities. They eventually die at the end of the novel due to their characterization by Shakespeare.

-Erik Seetao, team 3

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.

The Misanthrope Essay period 4

In Moliere’s play the Misanthrope, Celimene is the focus in many of the scenes, being the object of attraction to every man in the play with the exception of philinte. She charms the men and pays them respect and attention to their faces, but outside of their presence she vehemently scorns them. She mocks every suitor with a derogatory humor that makes the audience laugh. She harshly derides her suitors for being boring, tasteless, bombastic, pompous, and conceited. However in her back-stabbing humor is a very pointed message about the upper-class in general.

Although Celimene’s insults are directed to specific people, the words themselves are seen pertaining to multiple characters. This repetition creates for the audience, who all the while is laughing at Celimene’s wit, a sense of distance from and ridiculousness of the characters. This might have been moliere’s intention: to bring to light the upper-class’ pampered life, concered with frivolous problems and completely unconnected to the average person. However much entertainment the audience received, they would at the same time, be exposed to fairly treasonous thoughts regarding their “upper-class”. Their laughter makes them think about what they are actually laughing at: the actors or the symbols that they represent.

Moliere’s use of Celiemene’s insults contributes greatly to the entertainment of the play as well as its hidden purpose which was to inflame the spirit of the people with righteous indignation with regards to the upper-class. His purpose and goal were achieved, as this play along with many other writings brought about a revolution in France. An unsuccessful one, but nevertheless a momentous event in history that inspired the American Revolution against the British. And it was this thoughtful laughter served to start it all.

Alexander Deng Team 9

The Misanthrope Essay

Charles Salumbides
Period 5

As George Meredith once said , “The true test of comedy is that it shall awaken thoughtful laughter”. In the story of The Misanthrope by Molière truly passes this test. The Misanthrope has proven to be a truly great comedy due to its ability to provoke “thoughtful laughter”. The protagonist of the story, Alceste, awakens “thoughtful laughter” commonly through this classic comedy.

Alceste’s characteristic of being a hypocrite brings this “thoughtful laughter” to this truly genius comedy. His constant contradictions allow people to think and recall past events and statements to provide comedy to the reader. An example is Alceste’s love for another character named Climene. He is deeply in love with her yet they are complete opposites. Alceste’s is a depressed man, while Climene is a young vibrant young woman. Alceste hates society and believes that humans are naturally evil, while Climene loves society she lives in and all the people incorporated in it. This type of conflicting characteristics between the woman Aclseste loves provides comedy to the tale. Also when Alceste speaks of the failures of the class he is associated with, the aristocracy, yet he still feels he is superior. It makes the reader recall his previous statements and actions and laugh, because of the realization of the contradiction that is present.

This “thoughtful laughter” is present throughout the poem and provides a type of genuine comedy that is rarely seen in modern day comedies. This type of intellectual comedy gives laughter to those of the correct audience which makes it a purely great experience to read and enjoy.

Macbeth Essay Period.3

In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the device of characterization to illustrate how man/woman’s perception of fate affects man/woman’s actions. Shakespeare’s characterization of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth shows man’s perception of fate through their reactions, comments and actions.
First, Shakespeare illustrates Lady Macbeth’s perception of fate through her reaction to Macbeth’s letter. As she is informed about Macbeth’s encounter with the witches and Macbeth’s future of becoming King, her reaction to the letter right away is to kill King Duncan so that Macbeth would be King. “Great Glamis, you wish for something that requires a necessary act to get it, but you are frightened to do what you would still like to have done. Get here quickly, so I can fill you with my own inspiration. The strength of my word will overcome the fears that stand between you and the golden crown that fate and magic seem to have promised you.”(pg.52-53) This quote is the reaction that Lady Macbeth had made to the letter that Macbeth sent. This quotes shows that Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to become King and for that to happen she has to help Macbeth kill King Duncan. Also, when Lady Macbeth is told that the King will be coming to stay at her house for a day she plans a strategy in order for Macbeth to kill Duncan. Shakespeare through Lady Macbeth’s reaction shows the perception of fate.
Furthermore, Shakespeare uses the device of characterization to understand the meaning of fate though both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s comments on the plan to kill King Duncan. Macbeth is not ready and scared to kill King Duncan but Lady Macbeth comments that everything is going to be all right and she makes sure that Macbeth will be willing to kill Macbeth. “We Fail? Just screw your courage to its readiest point and we won’t fail. When Duncan is asleep-and she hard day’s journey will make him sleep soundly-I’ll get the two attendants of his bedchamber so drunk that they’ll remember nothing, ... We can accuse his drunken officers, who shall get the blame for our great murder.” (pg.65) Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that they will not fail their plan to kill Duncan. This quotes shows how desperate Lady Macbeth is to kill Duncan. “I am ready. I will strain every muscle to this terrible deed Let’s go and deceive the world with pleasant looks. A false face must hide what the false heart knows.” (pg.67) Macbeth through Lady Macbeth’s comment that killing Duncan is right, now fully understands that he must kill Duncan to be King. Shakespeare, through the comments of Lady Macbeth illustrates that fate has made Lady Macbeth to act in this manner and has made Macbeth to think that killing Duncan to become King is right.
In conclusion, Shakespeare through the actions of Macbeth shows that fate can make even the most innocent person can fall into the wrong path. Macbeth finally murders Duncan. Through Macbeth’s action of killing Duncan the perception of fate is clearly shown. Through the reactions and comments of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth the plan to kill Duncan takes place. Although Macbeth was scared to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth steps into make sure he goes with the plan. The killing of Duncan would not have happened if Lady Macbeth never knew the fate that Macbeth would be King in the future. In the end Lady Macbeth dies due to guilt of killing Duncan. Shakespeare drives the action forward through each character’s reactions and comments.

Christina Yang Team 3