In the following scene Philinte reports to Eliante that Alceste would not retract what he had said about Oronte's poem. Eliante admits that she must admire a man who sticks to his opinion so firmly; in fact she would not mind having him as a suitor. Philinte then confesses his love for Eliante and his own desire for her hand if she does not become involved with Alceste. When Alceste arrives, he is in a rage against Célimène for being false. Arsinoé has given him a love letter which appears to be from Célimène to someone else. When he confronts Célimène with the proof, she simply ignores it and suggests that it might have been written to a woman and not a man. She then accuses Alceste of being too strict and of not caring for her. Before the argument is settled, Alceste is reminded of a lawsuit against him, which he is apparently about to lose and which must be tended to immediately.
Later, Alceste is complaining to Philinte about the injustice in human society: He has indeed lost his lawsuit even though his case was a just one. He decides that he will retire from mankind and live in solitude. When Célimène comes in accompanied by Oronto, both men insist that she choose one of them. She avoids making a choice and before the two men can force her, the two fops, Clitandre and Acaste, arrive with incriminating letters which Célimène has written. In these letters, she made derogatory remarks about all of the gentlemen. The fops leave, promising to publish her perfidy to all of society. Oronte also gives up his suit to Célimène. Left alone with Alceste, Célimène acknowledges her mistake and offers her hand to Alceste if he will still have her. He then tells her that he wants to retire from society and wants her to join him in solitude. But Célimène cannot forego society, and at this point Alceste is cured of his love for Célimène and dismisses her. He then promises to live alone and rail against all of society and mankind.
