Molière

alias Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (1622-1673). French playwright, actor and theatre manager. In the Restoration his plays were very often adapted for the English stage and proved a decisive influence. William Wycherley's The Plain Dealer, for instance, takes central elements from Molière's Le Misanthrope (1666).

Life

Molière was born in Paris as the oldest son of Jean Poquelin, an upholsterer and Marie Cressé. Little is known about his early years. He went to the Collège de Clermont where he was taught how to dance and to foil fence. Even though his father wanted him to work as an upholsterer as well [source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/388302/Moliere/12109/Beginnings-in-theatre], he decided to work in a theatre. As a child, he went to the theatre regularly with his grandfather who was passionate about it (Brodowsky: 162). In 1643, he, his girlfriend Madeleine Béjart, her family and some friends set up a drama group called “L’Illustre Théâtre”. Due to financial problems the drama group left Paris and travelled throughout the country. In 1644, Poquelin used his stage name Molière for the first time. (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/388302/Moliere/12109/Beginnings-in-theatre) In 1658, the group returned to Paris. As Philippe d`Orléans, the only brother of King Louis XIV, became Molière`s patron, he was more successful this time. They played for the King and his royal household. From then on, Molière and King Louis XIV had an intensive relationship The King`s brother, Philippe, duc d`Orléans, became their patron and later King Louis XIV took absorbed the company which was known as “Troupe du roi” and supported Molière. Because of that the group got popular and were highly esteemed. sources: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/388302/Moliere/12109/Beginnings-in-theatre]. In 1662, Molière married Armande Béjart, the sister of his mistress Madeleine. Louis XIV was the godfather of their son who was born two years later. In 1673, Molière died after a long illness.

Comedies

Between 1658 and 1673, Molière wrote about thirty plays. He was influenced by the Italian Commedia dell`arte, fascinated by its central elements of improvisation and exaggeration. Therefore, the characters in his plays are exaggerated in their behaviour. As an example, in his play The Miser ( L`Avare) Harpagon, the main character, is so miserly that he is only interested in defending his property. He mistrusts everyone, including his children, and in the end, the fear of losing his property drives him to insanity. In contrast to the Commedia dell`arte, in which human weaknesses of character are ridiculed, but the protagonists were not harmed, in Molière`s plays they are not able to live a “normal” life and distance themselves from humanity. Most of Molière`s plays take place in Paris at that time. He mainly focused on representatives of Parisian society and on their weaknesses and obsessions. In fact, he ridiculed his audience, thereby creating a new type of comedy that was related to the world outside the theatre. He did not stick to the upper class but in his plays there are stupid as well as prudent characters in all social classes. As Molière`s plays were concerned with human behavior and character, he is a popular representative of the comedy of manners. This genre satires the manners of a certain society.

Some of Molière's Plays

The School for Husbands (L`école de maris) (1661)

The School for Wives (L`École des femmes) (1662)

The Forced Marriage (Le Mariage forcé) (1664)

The Princess of Elida (La Princesse d`Élide) (1664)

Tartuffe (Le Tartuffe; ou l`imposteur) (1664, 1667, 1669)

Don Juan (Don Juan) (1665)

Love's Cure-All (L`Amour médecin) (1665)

The Misanthrope ( Le Misanthrope) (1666)

A Doctor Despite Himself (Le Médecin malgré hui) (1666)

Mélicerte (Mélicerte) (1666)

The Sicilian (Le Sicilien) (1667)

The Miser (L`Avare) (1668)

Monsieur de Pourceaugnac (Monsieur de Pourceaugnac) (1669)

The Magnificent Suitors (Les Amants magnifiques) (1670)

Psyche (Psyché) (1671).

Scapin's Schemings (Les Fourberies de Scapin) (1671)

A Pretentious Countess (La Comtesse d`Escarbagnas) (1671)

Learned Ladies (Les Femmes savantes) (1672)

The Hypochondriac, or The Imaginary Invalid (Le Malade imaginaire) (1673)

Sources

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/388302/Moliere

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/362554/comedy-of-manners

http://www.site-moliere.com/bio/

Brodowsky, Paul, et al (Eds). Weltliteratur II: Vom Mittelalter zur Aufklärung. Bockenem: Universitätsverlag Hildesheim, 2009.

Hösle, Johannes. Molière. München: Piper, 1987.

Howarth, William D. Molière: A Playwright and his Audience. Cambridge: CUP, 1982.

Further Reading

Knutson, Harold C. The Triumph of Wit: Molière and Restoration Comedy. Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 1988.