In The Misanthrope there is a reversal of natural societal character in Alceste. He is criticizing, hating, and altogether impossible at praising which makes him the first laugh of the play. If people were to hear Alceste criticize people today no one would find it funny unless they were inside the "circle" as described by Bergson. "...[Laughter] can travel within as wide a circle as you please: the circle remains, none the less, a closed one." (p. 5a) The reason Alceste is funny is because he is so frank and his criticism so sharp as to almost be absurd. Bergson again comments on a person who's character is lacking in "tension and elasticity" (p. 8b) which is to be a person that has "the greatest in inadaptability to social life, which are the sources of misery and at times the causes of crime."(p. 8b) This is especially true for Alceste since he is called to account for his actions toward Oronte in criticizing his poem so harshly, and considering there is some unsolved court matter that is unknown to the reader or observer. In essence Alceste fits the character described by Bergson to be the cause of much laughter.
Another thing I find immensely funny about this play is that it is all in rhyme. The words are strung together so as to provide a fluidity but not for something pretty and complimenting. Criticizing and making fun of others is the purpose, as well as to provide confusion for the reader. Bergson says that in order for comedy to exist there must be some, "…mechanical inelasticity…" (p. 6a) While reading poetry we expect the poem to describe something beautiful or of worth, but instead we find disgust and distaste in The Misanthrope. This fluidity amongst inelastic conversation is like the stumbling block to the runner described by Bergson; it is unexpected and creates something at which we direct our laughter.
I agree that when I read a poem, I expect it to be about something beautiful. The rhymes in this play are the exact opposite, depicting hypocrisy and double standards. Nevertheless, I laughed at the rhymes and enjoyed reading this play.
ReplyDeleteI would argue that I never expected the play's format (rhyming lines, kind of musical meter) to lend toward something beautiful. But I definitely got a sense of order -- or, at least, an expected order, maybe even something inelastic. I felt a little trapped by the poetic style at times. I like your comparison to Bergson! It really highlights the parallels between both readings.
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