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Molière: ( 1622-1673)-The Master of Comedy

Louis XIV' was a patron of the arts and The French Academy, founded earlier flourished under him promoting the French language and literature. 

Molière was one of the artist  in his time who gained popularity worldwide. He  not just a playwright; he was also an actor and a theater director. In his comedies, he brilliantly exposed the vices and absurdities of the society he observed so keenly. His works portray all social classes, making it difficult to choose just a few to highlight.

A Collaboration (Moliere [Left] and Corneille) by Jean-Léon Gérôme

What makes Molière’s work timeless is the truthfulness of his characters and the life he breathed into them. He had an extraordinary ability to observe human nature and expose its contradictions through humor. Many of his character names have even become part of the French language. For instance, calling someone a "Tartuffe" means labeling them a hypocrite, and referring to a "Harpagon" suggests someone excessively stingy.

Beyond their humor, Molière’s plays carried strong social and philosophical messages. He criticized false appearances, blind adherence to tradition, and the abuses of power in various forms. His works often challenge audiences to reflect on their own behaviors and the absurdities of their world.

Molière’s influence extends far beyond his own time. His plays continue to be performed worldwide, and his themes remain just as relevant today as they were in the 17th century. His ability to combine laughter with sharp social critique set a standard for comedic theater that few have matched.

For anyone who has taken the time to learn French, reading Molière’s comedies is a richly rewarding experience. His wit, humor, and keen observations on human nature make his works essential reading, proving that laughter is not only entertaining but also a powerful tool for understanding and challenging society.

A brief summary of some of Molière’s  plays are as below:

1. The Learned Ladies (Les Femmes Savantes)

In Les Femmes Savantes, Molière wittily satirizes the pedantic women of his time. He exposes the pretentious intellectualism of certain members of the bourgeoisie, particularly women who claim to pursue knowledge but do so only for the sake of appearance. The play remains relevant today, as it critiques superficiality and the pursuit of status over genuine wisdom.

2. The Bourgeois Gentleman (Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme)

Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme is an amusing play that remains a pleasure to read, in which he ridicules the nouveau riche who aspire to imitate the upper class. Monsieur Jourdain, the central character, is a wealthy but unrefined merchant who dreams of becoming an aristocrat. His naïve attempts to adopt noble manners and culture make for an endless source of humor, while also exposing the folly of those who seek status through imitation rather than merit.

3. Tartuffe, or The Impostor (Tartuffe, ou l’Imposteur)

 Tartuffe, another remarkable work, is a powerful satire on hypocrisy. The titular character, Tartuffe, is a manipulative fraud who pretends to be a pious and moral man while secretly scheming for personal gain. Many hypocrites at the court of Louis XIV took offense at the play’s message and attempted to have it banned. However, Molière’s close friendship with the king ensured its survival. The play remains one of Molière’s most famous works, a timeless critique of religious and moral hypocrisy.

4. The Misanthrope (Le Misanthrope)

In Le  Misanthrope, Molière takes a slightly different approach, presenting a protagonist, Alceste, who is the opposite of a hypocrite—he despises insincerity so much that he refuses to tolerate even the smallest social niceties. However, his extreme honesty isolates him from society, and the play ultimately questions whether it is possible to live in a world without compromise. This work stands out for its more serious, reflective tone, showing that Molière could blend comedy with deeper philosophical themes.

5. The Imaginary Invalid (Le Malade Imaginaire)

The Imaginary Invalid is another of Molière’s masterpieces, in which he mocks incompetent doctors—those who, instead of curing the sick, worsen their conditions. The play’s protagonist, Argan, is a hypochondriac who is so obsessed with his health that he fails to see how he is being manipulated by those around him. This play, tragically, became Molière’s final work. During one of its performances, Molière fell seriously ill on stage. The audience, unaware of his true suffering, laughed at his performance, thinking it part of the act. He died shortly afterward.

6. The Miser (L’Avare)

Another significant work, L'Avare (The Miser), presents one of Molière’s most iconic characters, Harpagon, a man whose obsession with money blinds him to everything else, including his own family’s happiness. The play remains a brilliant study of greed and human folly. Harpagon’s name has become synonymous with miserliness in the French language, much like Tartuffe represents hypocrisy.

7. The School for Wives (L’École des Femmes)

A comedy about an older man, Arnolphe, who believes he can create the perfect wife by keeping his young ward, Agnès, isolated from the world. However, love prevails as Agnès falls for a young suitor, revealing the flaws in Arnolphe’s controlling philosophy. The play critiques male dominance and outdated ideas about women’s education.

8. The School for Husbands (L’École des Maris)

A similar theme to *The School for Wives*, this play tells the story of two brothers with different approaches to raising their wards—one is strict and controlling, while the other is kind and trusting. The latter’s approach proves to be the better one, as love cannot be forced.

9. The Doctor in Spite of Himself (Le Médecin Malgré Lui)

A hilarious farce where a drunken, mischievous woodcutter, Sganarelle, is mistaken for a great doctor. He goes along with the deception for his own gain, delivering nonsense "treatments" that somehow lead to unintended success. The play ridicules medical ignorance and superstition.

10. The Would-Be Gentleman (Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme)  

The same as The Bourgeois Gentleman, this title emphasizes Monsieur Jourdain’s foolish ambition to transform himself into an aristocrat despite his lack of refinement.

11. The Hypochondriac (Le Malade Imaginaire)

Another title for The Imaginary Invalid, emphasizing Argan’s obsession with illness and his willingness to marry his daughter off for access to doctors.

12. Don Juan, or The Feast with the Statue (Don  Juan, ou le Festin de Pierre)

A darker, more serious comedy about Don Juan, a charming but ruthless seducer who deceives women and defies moral and religious authority. His arrogance leads to his downfall when he is ultimately dragged to hell after mocking a statue that comes to life to avenge his wrongdoings.

13. Scapin the Schemer (Les Fourberies de Scapin)

A fast-paced comedy featuring Scapin, a clever and mischievous servant who outwits his masters to help young lovers overcome obstacles to marriage. Full of trickery, disguises, and slapstick humor, this play celebrates wit and resourcefulness.

These plays showcase Molière’s brilliant mix of humor and social critique, making him one of the greatest playwrights of all time.

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