Act 5, Scene 1 Summary

Alceste and Philinte are again waiting for Celimene. Alceste has not been arrested. He's upset, though, because he lost his court case in spite of the fact that everyone knows that his accuser lies.

Philinte tries to reassure Alceste that his accuser's reputation will be harmed by the lies he tells, and he encourages Alceste to appeal the verdict. However, Alceste is determined to pay his fine and let it be a testimony to the corruption of the system. He has decided to leave public life and move to the countryside. He intends to ask Celimene to leave with him. This way, she will finally have to choose between him and her other suitors.

Philinte points out that if humans were all good, there would be no need for goodness. He says that people's best traits are developed by bearing the...