The Misanthrope is one of the most famous works of Molière, a playwright and one of the greatest authors in French literature. The comedy was written during the 17th century and first played on the 4th of June 1666 at the Palais-Royal, a Parisian theater that welcomed regularly Molière's Company and their performances. The play is a comedy of manners, satirizing the hypocrisy of the higher social class of that time, highlighting their many flaws throughout the progression of the plot by using dynamic, round characters. Something that isn't usual in this genre since most writers, Molière included, use mostly flat characters to emphasize their critics of society in a comical way.
Although The Misanthrope is considered one of the best known works of Molière today, it wasn't always the case at the time. Molière was very popular with the public but he suffered his fair share of criticism, especially when it came to the aristocracy and they didn't take The Misanthrope well. Heavily criticized and not very popular, this play wasn't well received because of the 'sophistication' it will later be praised for. Far from its usual style, Molière presents a main character who is brutally honest in a dark comedy that is both disturbingly dramatic and incredibly witty. It tackles subjects that are important in regard to morals and society, and this is what will give The Misanthrope later-on all of its glory.
The story follows Alceste, the misanthrope, a man who hates the hypocrisy of the society, who considers himself honest and refuses to respect the rules of common courtesy. The play is an exploration of social conventions and the superficiality of these almost automated day-to-day manners and behavior. It sparks the question of whether it is the society that is corrupted or the self-righteous men that live in it. A life-long debate that contributed to the reputation of the masterpiece that The Misanthrope is known to be.
