Molière
1622–1673
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière, baptized in January 1622 in Paris and who died in February 1673, stands out as the most famous comedic playwright in the French language. Born into a wealthy Parisian merchant family whose unique household blended commerce, music, printing, and surgery, he chose to embark on a career in theater at the age of twenty-one. He then partnered with the Béjart family to found the Illustre Théâtre troupe, but despite promising beginnings, this first venture failed to establish a lasting presence in the capital.
Forced to leave Paris, Molière and his companions joined a prestigious traveling theater troupe, supported by several successive patrons such as the Duke of Épernon. For twelve years, they toured the southern provinces of the kingdom. It was during this long journey that the actor began writing farces, short prose comedies, as well as his first two major comedies in five acts and in verse, thereby developing his dramatic writing and his stagecraft.
Upon returning to Paris in 1658, Molière quickly established himself at the helm of his troupe as the favorite actor and playwright of the young King Louis XIV and the court. He devised numerous large-scale shows for them, collaborating closely with the finest stage architects, choreographers, and musicians of his time to create complete spectacles combining theater, music, and dance. His Parisian career was marked by intense creative and performing activity, where he generally took on the lead role in his plays.
An unparalleled creator, Molière explored every facet of comedy, whether verbal, physical, visual, or situational. He practiced all genres, from popular farce to comedy of character, and gave rise to complex characters who have become true archetypes. A keen observer of society, he lucidly depicted the customs and flaws of his contemporaries, sparing only the clergy and high dignitaries. His major comedies, far from being mere entertainment, challenged established social principles, which sparked violent controversies and lasting hostility from devout circles.
Molière died suddenly at the age of fifty-one, leaving behind a body of work comprising some thirty comedies in verse or prose that today constitutes a pillar of literary education and universal culture. His eventful life and strong personality continue to inspire artists, while the French language is commonly referred to by the iconic periphrasis "the language of Molière," bearing witness to his invaluable influence.
Bibliography
- Le MisanthropeExplored
- The Works of Monsieur de Molière1682Posthumous edition of his works