My life as a "prude"

This is a blog of a lovely woman who is wanting love from a respectful, kind gentleman. Some may say I'm a prude and jealous of how my friend Célimène has, like, all men entranced but I really am just a self -respecting, virtuous, and modest woman.

[arsinoelife]

So tell me, Arsinoe, now that Alceste and Celimene are in splitsville, do you think you are the next in line to accept Alceste's love? You know, once he comes back from his solitary state of mind...

No, sir “I’m not interested as you suppose in Célimène’s discarded gigolos.”  I don’t care for that creature anymore after he discarded my love to follow Célimène’s, where he was only one of many of her “loves”. So basically no, I no longer love or even like this vain man and hope that he can work something out with Célimène. They are perfect for each other. 

(Moliere, The Misanthrope pg.734)

[celimeneismylove-blog]

Dear Arsinoe

"You’ve been so friendly as to let me know

What certain people say of me, and so

I mean to follow your benign example

By offering you a somewhat similar sample.”

Your a great friend, that is a guarantee,

But very prudish indeed.

If your going to insult me,

Your well to expect a repartee.

[arsinoelife]

Well my dear friend Céliméne, I didn't mean to insult you. However I don't believe your rebuttal was necessary or kind. I was really just trying to be nice and help you to defend your reputation. I thought we were good friends and I could tell you what,as you put it," certain people say..." about you behind your back,but after your rude remarks I will have to rethink our whole ''friendship".

[arsinoelife]

When I saw this picture originally, I thought of Célimène when I saw this picture. This is because I thought that "the flame of our friendship ought to burn brightest in matters of most concern, and there's nothing which concerns us more than honor, I have hastened to your door to bring you, as a [best] friend, some information about the status of your reputation...” However when I arrived to give my bestie "my good counsel" about people talking about her behind her back, "I dared not hope for gratitude, but I did not expect so acid a reply". I just thought that my good friend would want to know about this but instead she was rude and hurtful. I'm sorry Célimène if “... my good counsel pierced you to the heart" but I don't believe I deserved such a rude response! ("The Misanthrope”, Molière pg. 715-716)

[arsinoelife]

James W. Pennebaker, of the University of Texas, Austin, says these phrases formalize conversation and function as a form of dishonesty

This article summarizes how Célimène acted when I tried to tell her about the horrible things others were saying about her behind her back. This article demonstrates how people use certain language to "lighten the blow" when telling people the truth causing confusion about their true intentions. This article also offers readers a way to make their intentions clear when telling the truth without hurting others. I believe that I made my intentions clear when I came to Célimène to give her "my good counsel". However she still misunderstood me an responded with an "so acid a reply" that it hurt my feeling. I know that I did not mean to have "my good counsel [pierce her] to the heart" so I will try to believe the same for her but Célimène could really learn from the lesson in the article to make her intentions clearer when talking to her friends. 

(Act 2, Arsinoe)

[celimene1]

First Post!

I feel like The Bachelorette with all these suitors showing up at my door! I mean, you can’t blame them; look at me! Sometimes I must admit, I do like discussing my suitors’ faults with Acaste and Clitandre…

"Is it my fault that all these men pursue me?

Am I to blame if they’re attracted to me?

And when they gently beg an audience,

Ought I to take a stick and drive them hence?”

(Act // Scene /, Celimene)

[arsinoelife]

You are not worthy of Alcest. He truly believes that you love only him, when we all know that you say that to everyone. We all know that "... modesty and virtue can't afford..." all your suitors, "... you're fooling no one...", that is except your  suitors. Even if you do love them all, you shouldn't comment on them behind their backs. Plus, nowadays " Lovers are no great trouble to collect If one prefers them to one's self-respect."

(Act 2, Arsineo).

[arsinoelife]

Taylor Swift understands how I feel about Alcest. I wish Alcest could just see that he is "... very much too good for Célimène. She's wantonly misled you from the start." Not only does Célimène not deserve his love but we are perfect for each other. We both think that people have declining morals and both dislike insincere people. I just don't understand why he likes Célimène and all her suitors!   

 Molière, the Misanthrope, line 338-339