Molière’s The Misanthrope



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Seventeenth-century writer Molière, one of France’s foremost comedic playwrights, gave depth to traditional comic roles by striving to maintain serious emotions in his work. Molière commonly satirized the contrast between people’s perceptions of themselves and the perceptions others have of them. In this excerpt from Le misanthrope (1666; The Misanthrope), Alceste, the speaker, is jealous and criticizes his sweetheart, Célimène, for listening to the flattery of other men. Recited by an actor.

Appears in these articles:

French Literature; Drama and Dramatic Arts; Molière

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