Wounds of a Friend

In Moliere’s work, The Misanthrope and Tartuffe, Moliere creates a fun and seemingly light-hearted read, but when looking on deeper levels the work deals with more challenging and scholarly topics. One example might be found in the character named “Oronte”. Moliere paints a portrait of a shallow person who seeks only faux flattery rather than the truth in the character Oronte, and through the consequential events, gives evidence as to why seeking truth over faux flattery will allow for growth in one who does such. 

Starting in the beginning of The Misanthrope, Oronte comes to Alceste in a flurry of flattery, buttering Alceste up by saying,  “I came to say, without exaggeration,/That I hold you in the vastest admiration,/ And that it’s always been my dearest desire/ To be the friend of one I so admire.” (Moliere 30). Oronte continues pouring on the flattery while Alceste remains almost unaware of his praises entirely, Alceste eventually speaks to Oronte and explains that he holds a friendship in the highest regard and thinks it not something to take lightly or make a quick process. Offended by Alcestes’ hesitancy Oronte intends to win him over with a sonnet “/Please comment on it,/ And tell me whether I ought to publish it.” (Moliere 33). Alceste takes no time to warn Oronte that he is “inclined to be unfashionably sincere.” (Moliere 33) and Oronte profusely denies that he will be hurt or would want anything but his full honesty. Oronte beginning to read the sonnet, does not hear the comment Alceste makes concerning the sonnet saying, “Why, the thing is frightful.” (Moliere 35) or even better “You know the thing is trash.” (Moliere 36). After reading through the entire sonnet Oronte implores Alceste to tell him all his thoughts on said sonnet, Alceste obliges and berates Oronte with heaps of negative remarks concerning the sonnet. Alceste does not tell Oronte that it concerns his sonnet, but instead poses his thoughts from a viewpoint of in the past he had a friend he told, “no fault is worse/ Than that of writing a frigid, lifeless verse” (Moliere 38) but Oronte infers that these statements are pointed at him as well. Alceste like a broken dam then lets all his words fly “Frankly, that sonnet should be pigeonholed.” (Moliere 39) another phrase being “The rhyme’s not rich, the style is rough and old” (Moliere 40) following this Oronte responds to all of Alcestes’ critiques with “And I maintain my sonnet’s very good.” (Moliere 40). To summarize, Oronte gives the impression of completely disregarding everything Alceste voices as soon as it is not the praises which Oronte was seeking. Actions such as these shown by Oronte are denotative of a shallow person who does not seek truth, but rather solely desires false flattery and praise. 

As evidenced Oronte is the tool by which Moliere uses to display one who is shallow. But what is so wrong with wanting flattery and praise? Flattery and praise alone are not bad or evil, but the seeking of only flattery and/or praise and the ignorance of truth is base. It should not be overlooked that the average person does not enjoy receiving criticism or negative feedback, but to ignore such criticism or go as far as to denounce such criticism without any self-reflection is simply ignorant. Proverbs 27:6 says, “The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.”, it is left to interpret whether Oronte recognizes that Alceste is simply being honest and is not intending to be hateful, but I believe that Alceste is simply being honest, like Oronte requested of him. Oronte appears to be wishing for only the “kisses of the enemy” rather than the “wounds of a friend”, but there is no good that comes from receiving only the kisses of an enemy. Seeking truth within all aspects of one’s life allows for tremendous growth in their life rather than only seeking praise and flattery. For instance if a person took their essay to a tutor, asked them for their honest thoughts before submitting it, the tutor gave them many critiques and then the student then simply said they thought their essay was very good and did not take into account any of the recommendations made by the tutor. Then the student has done themselves a disservice by not reflecting on the critiques and making changes as needed to their essay. The same attitude can be taken for most any circumstance, because although hearing these critiques might not be enjoyable they are useful and can be made into an experience for doing better in the future. 

Later in The Misanthrope, Oronte comes into light again and is speaking with Celimene, “You must deign/To give me some more positive assurance.” (Moliere 134) and gives her the ultimatum of choosing between himself and Alceste “Choose, if you please, between Alceste and me” (Moliere 134). Oronte then again begs for the truth in, “No, no, speak plainly; I for one can stand it/ I beg you to be frank.” (Moliere 137) Oronte appears to present a pattern here of requesting honesty and stating he can handle it, but once he is presented with it he is offended by it or ignores it. The play then continues when Acaste reads the letter Celimene wrote to him concerning, among many others, Oronte. Celimene describes him with, “I simply cannot be bothered to listen” (Moliere 143) and finishes off her letter with, “Be assured that I am not always so well-entertained/as you suppose” (Moliere 143). Oronte responds to this unsettling news with, “I thank you, Madam, for enlightening me” (Moliere 145). Through this response Moliere displays the better way to respond to truth/honesty by Oronte acknowledging it and accepting it. 

In conclusion, Moliere makes use of the character Oronte by displaying characteristics that most people are guilty of displaying throughout their lives. Oronte displays being shallow and not valuing truth, by his ignorance of Alcestes’ honesty concerning the sonnet. Throughout The Misanthrope, Moliere portrayed the ignorance most humans display concerning truth and concerning criticism. To summarize, seeking “the wounds of a friend” rather than the “kisses of an enemy” will serve a person better throughout their lives and allow for more growth.