Alceste and his beloved Célimène are squabbling over her encouragement of rival suitors. Alceste is jealous and cannot tolerate competitors for Célimène's affections or attentions. He is especially disturbed by favors bestowed on one Clitandre, with his blond periwig, frills at his knees, and his affected falsetto voice. Célimène merely thinks that Alceste is becoming jealous of the entire universe.
While Alceste and Célimène are talking, the servant, Basque, announces the arrival of another suitor, Acaste, and then the arrival of Clitandre. Alceste tries to escape because, as he says, "these conversations only bore me." Célimène begs him to stay but when he refuses her, she tells him to "be off! Do as you please!"
