"The Misanthrope" by Moliere: a summary of the chapters

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The premiere of the play, written by the famous French playwright Jean-Baptiste Molière, "The Misanthrope" (full title - "The Misanthrope, or Unsociable") was held at the Palais Royal Theater in Paris in June 1666. The role of Alceste at the premiere was played by Molière himself.

The comedy "The Misanthrope" is written in verse and consists of five acts.

In Russia, the first performance took place only in 1857.

The play was very popular with the public of that time, moreover, with the light hand of Molière, "misanthrope" as a designation of a certain kind of person entered the lexicon of the French, and later other viewers and readers. Meanwhile, the word is quite old, its appearance is associated with Ancient Greece.

In addition to a brief summary of Moliere's Misanthrope, we will tell in the article about the meaning of this lexeme and the history of writing the play.

Meaning of the word

A misanthrope is a person who feels distrust of people, unsociable, a misanthrope (namelythis is the literal translation of the word from ancient Greek). Such personalities are often not eager to communicate with other people, avoid human society as a whole, and are distinguished by gloominess and aloofness of character.

However, misanthropy can manifest itself in various forms - from ostentatious disregard for the opinions of others and even a desire to harm them, to alienation or careful selection by misanthropes of those with whom they think they should communicate.

How the play was written

In the summary of Molière's "The Misanthrope", we will clarify that the comedy was written by the author, who was impressed by the play of the ancient Greek playwright Menander (IY century BC) "The Grouch". It is known that the play had a second name - "The Hater".

Her main character is a peasant named Knemon who lives near Athens. He, having a bad, unsociable disposition (why his wife left him many years ago), cultivated his fields and did not want to establish friendly relations with anyone. But his beautiful daughter once fell in love with a rich young rich neighbor Sostratus, who could not manage to achieve a friendly disposition with Knemon. Then the stepson of the peasant Gorgias came to the aid of the lover. A we althy and noble young man had to pretend to be a simple poor man who earns his bread with any work. He is hired to work in the field at Knemon. Later, again thanks to the help of the stepson of an unsociable peasant, he had the opportunity to save Knemon by pulling him out of the well. Exposing yourself in the old man's eyesin a favorable light, Sostratus manages to achieve the favor of Knemon and consent to marriage.

Characters of the play

The main characters of Molière's comedy "The Misanthrope" rush about in a love triangle in which two young men - Alceste and Orontes - are in love with the windy beauty Célimène. One of the main characters is a friend of Alceste named Philint.

Among other characters are Célimène's cousin Eliante and Arsinoe's girlfriend, Marchioness Acaste and Clitandre, servants of Basque and Dubois, gendarme.

The central character of Molière's comedy is a young man Alceste, who is in love with the young Célimène. The peculiarity of Alceste's nature is that he, not wanting to notice his shortcomings, is inclined to blame the people around him for many vices.

In this work by Molière, there are many dialogues of the main and secondary characters and few events. This led to a small plot content and to the subtle psychologism of the comedy. In essence, the series of events boils down to the proclamations of the axioms learned by Alceste, and to the mental turmoil of the hero, who is trying to deal with his passion for the seductive anemone Celimene. At the same time, Alceste does not challenge anyone to a duel, does not take any other decisive steps to resolve the contradictions that tormented him. Basically, all his actions come down to angry tirades. This may be a small analysis of Jean-Baptiste Molière's The Misanthrope.

As confirmation, here is a summary of Jean-Baptiste Molière's The Misanthrope and quotes from this work.

Firstaction

At the beginning of the comedy, the straightforward Alceste condemns his friend Philint for being unnecessarily friendly when meeting with a barely familiar person, because, in his opinion, it is necessary

…be truthful, and know direct honor, And only say what's in your heart.

In response to reproaches, he tries to convince Alceste that it is impossible to tell the truth to everyone, because society requires its members to observe decency. But the main character does not agree with him, he declares that from the morals prevailing around, he falls into gloom and is ready to challenge "the whole human race" for his hypocrisy and hypocrisy. At the same time, Alceste still really hopes that his love for the vicious Célimène will re-educate the girl and cleanse her soul.

Another young man in love with Célimène, Orontes, offers his friendship to Alceste and asks for his advice on the sonnet he composed. To the delight of Philinte, who, as always, strives to be amiable, the protagonist declares that the sonnet is no good, and rejects Orontes' friendly disposition, remarking:

…I have too much honor.

A summary of Molière's Misanthrope in the first act ends with Philint's warning that Alceste may have made an enemy.

Second act

Alceste reproaches Célimène for her frivolity, coquetry and many admirers, to which the girl replies that she cannot forbid anyone to get carried away by her. And regarding the sarcastic questions of the lover about the rival that has arisen, the Marquis Clitandre, the girl ingenuously answers:

he promised to help me win the process, He has connections and he has weight.

But these words are not able to appease Alceste's jealousy. He finds it difficult to understand Célimène's forced hypocrisy.

The Marquises and Eliante, who came to visit Célimène one by one, gossip about mutual acquaintances, the girl supports frivolous chatter. Adceste, who has decided to sort things out with Célimène to the end, accuses Acaste and Clitandre of hypocrisy.

With the intention of arresting the main character and taking him to the office, a gendarme comes. With a promise to return soon to "get the truth" from an unfaithful lover, Alceste leaves.

Third act

Left alone Klitandr and Akast are at a loss - which of them is more to the heart of the beautiful Celimene? They agree that the one who provides evidence in the favor of the girl will emerge victorious from the dispute, and the opponent will leave.

Unexpectedly, her friend Arsinoe comes to visit Célimène. Having called her friend alone with the marquises a "daring hypocrite", who has lost all her admirers, the hostess nevertheless accepts her with ostentatious joy. However, their conversation is not pleasant: Arsinoe informs Célimène that society does not approve of her windiness and coquetry. She, in turn, claims that she heard talk about the hypocrisy and pretense of Arsinoe. They are arguing. Célimène entrusts the returned Alceste to the company of her friend and leaves.

Arsinoe admires the young man and offers to help him so that he can serve the court and thereby make a career for himself. However, Alceste rejects the offer, saying:

I was not created by fate for life at court, I am not inclined to the diplomatic game, I was born with a rebellious, rebellious soul, And I will not succeed among the servants of the court.

Then the restless Arsinoe tries to "open the eyes" of the hero in love with her passion, claiming that Célimène does not love him and is deceiving him. He does not believe, preferring to verify everything personally. Arsinoe invites him to her home to present "certain proof of treason".

Fourth act

Filint tells Eliante how Alceste and Orontes were reconciled in court. Somehow, the judges managed to persuade the disputants to compromise.

An angry Alceste appears and brings a letter with Célimène's confession of love for Orontes.

Célimène, who came with an innocent look, is interested in what caused Alceste's despondency. To the letter shown to her beloved, she replies that it was written to a woman, and not to Orontes. Alceste wants to know the truth to the end, but Célimène no longer wants to explain anything.

A servant arrives and says that Alceste should leave immediately to avoid arrest.

Fifth act

Summary of "The Misanthrope" by Molière continues with the following events: Alceste learns that Orontes won the lawsuit, and informs Philint that he did notis going to file a complaint - he has decided to retire from society.

The Orontes who came asks Célimène to finally make a choice between him and Alceste, but the beauty avoids answering. Marquises Klitandr and Akast present a letter in which Célimène slanders about all the heroes of the events. Distressed, but still hopeful, Alceste invites Célimène to go with him into the wilderness and leave the world, to which the beauty refuses. Alceste realizes that he has been cured of his love and is now free.

We have given a summary of the chapters of "The Misanthrope" by Moliere.