Molière has created a delicate balance here between what Alceste says and the manner in which he says it. What he actually says is true, but his manner of stating it makes it impossible for the audience to sympathize with him completely. For example, Alceste says that "there is too much baseness in the world today." We categorically agree with this statement, but the manner in which Philinte frames the problem sets us to wondering: "The world is governed by intrigue and self-interest; fraud does carry all before it nowadays. Men ought to be different from what they are. But is the prevalence of injustice among them a reason for withdrawing from their society?" Embedded in this statement is the philosophical tone of the entire play: That is, Molière is criticizing the type of society which exists, but at the same time he is ridiculing someone like Alceste who cannot function in that society. On the other hand, even Philinte's statement — that one should welcome the bad society because only in the presence of baseness can his own true virtue shine forth — somewhat undercuts his "reasonable" stand. The logic is at best dubious.
At the end of the scene, the hater of mankind is left sulking in the corner of the stage awaiting the vibrant social butterfly, Célimène.
