After the favorable picture of a sincerely principled man is drawn of Alceste in the court, Eliante speaks up and expresses a certain admiration for Alceste: "There's something in its way noble and heroic in this sincerity he so prides himself on. It's a rare virtue in these days. I only wish there were more people like him." This comment functions as a type of sounding board for the audience. We have to join with Eliante in applauding Alceste's honesty and sincerity after having been exposed to so much hypocrisy in the other characters.
In this opening scene, we are given to understand for the first time that Philinte is also in love with Eliante. In contrast to Alceste, who speaks directly and frankly, Philinte uses much more tact and consideration — one is tempted to say dissimulation — in declaring his love for Eliante. Such tactics do, however, succeed in winning his loved one; Alceste, for failure to act similarly, loses his woman. Together, Philinte and Eliante will come to represent the closest there is to a norm in the play.
