Alceste has become disenchanted with the ways of society. He is tired of the dishonesty and superficial dealings of people in the court of France, and he wants people to speak their mind sincerely. Unfortunately, Alceste is madly in love with a woman who is the personification of everything he despises: the beautiful but shallow Celimene. As Alceste tries to win her heart, he grapples with the dilemma of how to live in a civilization that values falseness over sincerity. Widely considered to be Moliere’s masterpiece, The Misanthrope is a comedic yet complex character study that still sharply satirizes manners in today’s society.
The Misanthrope guide sections
