Fleeing from Humans (Book)

The Misanthrope is the Turkish translation by Bedrettin Tuncel of the 1666 play Le Misanthrope by French game writer Molière. Written in verse, work the work critiques the hypocrisy of society through the story of an individual who refuses to compromise his honesty. Bedrettin Tuncel’s translation adapts the text into Turkish while preserving its original structure and literary qualities.

The protagonist, Alceste, is a character weary of societal deceit, unwavering in his commitment to truth and seeking sincerity in human relationships. However, those around him, especially his beloved Célimène, do not share his view of honesty. Alceste constantly battles social norms and hypocrisy, yet is left isolated by those around him. The play is regarded as a tragicomedy that questions the individual’s necessity to conform to society and the cost of integrity.

Bedrettin Tuncel’s translation presents Molière’s elegance and sharp wit in a style appropriate to the Turkish language of the time. The expressions in the work are supported by culturally adapted renderings to help Turkish readers better understand the text.