Acaste's "frank" estimate of himself at the beginning of this act contrasts excellently with Alceste's estimate of himself. The fop's opinion of himself illustrates the very things that Alceste objects to in society. In reality, Acaste is a rather slight, one-dimensional character, whose purpose in the play is to represent one aspect of society which the misanthrope justifiably detests.
Embedded in his opinion of himself is an interesting reference to a habit which Molière objected to. During this era of theater there was actually room on the stage for a certain number of people to sit while a play was being produced. The type of person who occupied these places was often the man-of-mode or fop — who generally had an exaggerated opinion of his critical abilities. Molière undoubtedly disliked this interfering fop, and used such speeches to ridicule just that type who would be sitting on the stage during the presentation of The Misanthrope.
