R.B. Landolt describes how Moliere’s comedy, Le Tartuffe, which portrays religious hypocrisy, involved him in troubles with devout persons at Court and with his patron, Louis XIV.

What is Molière's relationship to King Louis XIV?

Molière founded his own theatre company in his early 20s. His company toured the French provinces for several years and eventually secured the patronage of King Louis XIV’s brother in 1658 at a performance given at the Louvre. With the advantage of royal patronage, Molière’s company began to grow in prestige.

Did Molière marry his own daughter?

Around this time, Molière and Madeleine began to live apart; in 1662, he married her beautiful daughter Armande (passed off as Madeleine’s “sister”). Molière’s enemies whispered that Armande, some 20 years younger than the playwright, was his own daughter.

Why is Molière important?

Moliere is considered the world’s greatest writer of comedies. Many of his plays have also been translated for performances in English theatres, giving him a considerable reputation abroad. … In 1643 he embarked on a theatrical venture under the title of L’Illustre Theatre, which lasted for over three years in Paris.

Why did Tartuffe get banned?

Answer and Explanation: Tartuffe was banned because the influential members of the church believed it was anti-religious. The church wants belief, the faith of the people, and faith can be thoughtful or blind.

Why did Molière change his name?

Since the life of the theater was not considered very respectable, he assumed the name “Molière” in order to spare embarrassment to his family. That same year he signed on with the family of Madeleine Béjart and nine other actors, who formed a troupe known as the Illustre Théâtre.

What was Molière's writing style?

Molière’s Writing Style Molière’s writing was very much influenced by commedia dell’arte but his style grew from that influence. He is often relegated to the role of comic, frivolous playwright, perhaps because his plays thrive in their physical action and their snappy dialogue.

What position did Moliere's father?

Molière was born Jean Baptiste Poquelin in Paris, France, on January 15, 1622. His father was a successful upholsterer (one who puts soft coverings on chairs) who held the post of official furnisher at the royal court. Molière had been attracted to the theater since childhood.

What type of invalid was the title of one of Moliere's plays?

In 1673, during a production of his final play, The Imaginary Invalid, Molière, who suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis, was seized by a coughing fit and a haemorrhage while playing the hypochondriac Argan. He finished the performance but collapsed again and died a few hours later.

What did Molière's plays contain?

Many of Moliere’s plays are one-act comedies, performed to lighten the mood after tragic subject matter. These short plays often feature commedia dell’arte stock characters and heavy wordplay. Some of the best known include School for Husbands, Sganarelle, and The Pretentious Young Ladies.

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Was Molière a satirist?

Among the first plays to show Molière as a more serious satirist are The School for Husbands (1661) and The School for Wives (1662). … Such as Tartuffe (1664), the classic Molière satire on hypocrisy in which a character uses the cover of religion for material gain.

Who wrote The Miser?

The Miser, five-act comedy by Molière, performed as L’Avare in 1668 and published in 1669. The plot concerns the classic conflict of love and money.

Who wrote Le Malade Imaginaire?

The Imaginary Invalid, comedy in three acts by Molière, produced in 1673 and published in 1674 as Le Malade imaginaire.

Who wrote Tartuffe?

Tartuffe, comedy in five acts by Molière, produced in 1664 and published in French in 1669 as Le Tartuffe; ou, l’imposteur (“Tartuffe; or, The Imposter”). It was also published in English as The Imposter.

Why was Tartuffe written?

During this time, Molière appealed to the king on behalf of his banned play Tartuffe, famously writing in his first appeal, “the purpose of the comedy is to correct the faults of men,” and arguing for the moral necessity of the play.

What is Molière's Tartuffe about?

Tartuffe the character is a wanderer whom the main character, Orgon, takes into his home. But ”Tartuffe” the play is the story of a man who almost loses his family and his home due to blind devotion to a fraud.

What was the name of Moliere's last play?

Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid), about a hypochondriac who fears death and doctors, was performed in 1673 and was Molière’s last work.

Who is Argan's child?

The only strict novelty in the dramatis personae is a significant child’s role, that of Argan’s eight-year-old daughter, Louison (played in the original production by the daughter of Mlle Beauval, who took the part of Toinette).

What kind of injection does Argan get from his doctor?

Angelique is ready to talk to him, but Argan must leave the room for a short while (presumably the result of an “injection” [i.e., enema] he’s just had). While he is out, Angelique takes the opportunity to talk to Toinette.

Who wrote the misanthrope?

Le Misanthrope, satiric comedy in five acts by Molière, performed in 1666 and published the following year.

What was ironic about Moliere's death?

Molière died shortly after collapsing on stage during one of his own plays. … Ironically, given the role he was playing in the production, Molière in fact collapsed in a fit of coughing during the performance. He insisted on finishing his performance, before suffering another massive haemorrhage and dying shortly after.

Who is Dorine in the play Tartuffe?

Dorine is Mariane’s maid. She’s also saucy, sassy, and streetwise. She’s always ready with a snappy comeback and some good advice. Without Dorine, Mariane probably would have folded under pressure from Orgon and married Tartuffe.

What the devil was he doing in that galley meaning?

He repeats, “What the devil was he doing in that galley?” (“Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?”) The word galère (“galley”) is used in French nowadays to mean “a cumbersome, painful affair,” often with this sentence from Les Fourberies de Scapin.

Is Moliere a nom de plume?

He chose his nom-de-plume Molière in 1644 but his company had some financial difficulties due to a lack of success: Molière was imprisoned twice in 1645 for debts. … In 1659, Molière presented his third play, “Les Précieuses Ridicules”.

Is Harpagon rich?

Harpagon (ahr-pah-GOH[N]), the father of Cléante and Élise, a wealthy, vicious, money-mad old widower. … Fearful of being robbed and killed for his wealth, he buries his money in his garden. Even his children are suspected of planning to rob him.

Who stole from Harpagon?

After sixteen years, he had decided to seek a new wife in another country and to change his name to Anselme “to forget the sorrows of a name associated with so many and great troubles” (5.5). Harpagon then says Anselme is responsible for the money Valère stole from him.

What is the theme of the story the miser?

The Miser and his Gold (or Treasure) is one of Aesop’s Fables that deals directly with human weaknesses, in this case the wrong use of possessions. Since this is a story dealing only with humans, it allows the point to be made directly through the medium of speech rather than be surmised from the situation.

What does Malade Imaginaire mean?

Definition of malade imaginaire : imaginary invalid : hypochondriac.

Is The Imaginary Invalid in verse?

Molière wrote some of his plays entirely in verse and some entirely in prose. In The Imaginary Invalid, the introduction and the three acts are in prose; the eclogue and prologue are in verse; and the interludes are mainly in verse, with some prose.

What is the theme of imaginary invalid?

We touch upon three themes in The Imaginary Invalid: criticism of the medical profession, philosophical accommodation to mortality, and the therapeutic benefit of comedy. Moliere’s criticism of the medical practices of his time might be mistaken for opportunistic lampooning, low comedy, or even mean-spirited.