An ugly sight, a man who is afraid.

Taken at face value, the line is a curt moral judgment: fear in a man is not merely pitiable but aesthetically and ethically “ugly.” In Anouilh’s dramatic universe—where characters are often tested by compromise, cowardice, and the temptation to evade responsibility—such a remark functions like a hard-edged verdict on weakness. It suggests that fear deforms dignity: the frightened person becomes capable of self-betrayal, cruelty, or capitulation, and the spectacle repels observers. The phrasing also hints at social performance: “a sight” implies fear is visible, and that public fear invites contempt rather than compassion, exposing a harsh code of honor.