Acaste

Acaste is one of the two marquis who pursue Celimene. In act 5, Acaste, along 'with Clitandre, confronts Celimene with love letters she has Written to each of them Acaste reads aloud from a letter which she wrote to Clitandre, in which she refers to him (Acaste) as "the little marquis" and assures Clitandre that, although she let Acaste hold her hand, he is "of no consequence." Acaste leaves with Clitandre, assuring Celimene that he has" better women standing by" who are interested in him.

Alceste

Alceste is the misanthrope referred to in the title. Throughout the play, he expresses his disgust with the dishonesty, hypocrisy, corruption, and lack of justice in society, claiming that he himself at least is completely frank and honest in all of his social interactions. Philinte, his friend, presents a variety of counterpoints to Alceste's arguments. When Oronte asks his opinion of a love...