“Leave the morals of the world alone,
And worry rather more about your own.
They felt that one’s self-knowledge should be great
Before one thinks of setting others straight”
p. 90 Celimene to Arsinoe
When I read this part, I instantly
thought of how Frye defined comedy. He
claimed that comedy is designed “to ridicule a lack of self-knowledge.” Self-knowledge is the understanding of one’s
own capabilities, character, feelings, or motivations, according to the
Merriam-Webster dictionary.
There are several characters in
this play who are definitely lacking self-knowledge. Alceste is very critical of every man he
encounters, but he never seems to take a good look at himself to determine if
he possesses any of the characteristics that he is so judgmental of in others. Celimene looks down upon Arsinoe because of
her prudish ways, but sees no fault in herself for acting flirtatious with all the
men around her. Arsinoe, on the other
hand, does not approve of Celimene’s coquettish lifestyle, but is “vain enough
to paint her face.” These are all
instances of the pot calling the kettle black, as the popular phrase goes. These characters point out the flaws and
shortcomings of others, but see nothing wrong in themselves. None of them have a strong sense of
self-knowledge.
Self-knowledge, or the lack
thereof, seems to be a continuing theme in the plays that we read. From my point of view, the mention of
self-knowledge serves to demonstrate how judgmental society can be. This must have been a societal concern when
Moliere wrote this play in 1666, and it is still relevant today. Self-knowledge can be improved by evaluating your
own motives, morals, and actions and not being so quick to compare yourself to others
or judge them. The lack of
self-knowledge in the characters in The
Misanthrope and how it negatively affects their relationships illustrates
the need for more self-knowledge in society.
Very nice connecting Frye with the play. I did not catch that. I agree that the characters you mentioned are all hypocrites. You do have to give credit to Alceste, though, for admitting that he is love with a woman who has the characteristics of a person he despises and judges on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteWhile we have to give credits to Alceste for having the courage to boldly express his love, his act also disproves his previous judgement and principles. Of course, it is easier to forgive and accept the flaws of someone you love. I think it is still unfair for Alceste to condemn other characters, while he looks pass his own flaws as well as Celimene's.
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