Molière

Author profile

born

in Paris, France

January 15, 1622

died

February 17, 1673

gender

male

genre

Literature & Fiction

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Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, also known by his stage name, Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. Among Molière's best-known dramas are Le Misanthrope, (The Misanthrope), L'Ecole des femmes (The School for Wives), Tartuffe ou l'Imposteur, (Tartuffe or the Hypocrite), L'Avare ou l'École du mensonge (The Miser), Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid), and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (The Bourgeois Gentleman).

From a prosperous family and having studied at the Jesuit Clermont College (now Lycée Louis-le-Grand), Molière was well suited to begin a life in the theatre. Thirteen years as an itinerant actor helped to polish his comic abilities while he also began writin...more Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, also known by his stage name, Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. Among Molière's best-known dramas are Le Misanthrope, (The Misanthrope), L'Ecole des femmes (The School for Wives), Tartuffe ou l'Imposteur, (Tartuffe or the Hypocrite), L'Avare ou l'École du mensonge (The Miser), Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid), and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (The Bourgeois Gentleman).

From a prosperous family and having studied at the Jesuit Clermont College (now Lycée Louis-le-Grand), Molière was well suited to begin a life in the theatre. Thirteen years as an itinerant actor helped to polish his comic abilities while he also began writing, combining Commedia dell'Arte elements with the more refined French comedy.

Through the patronage of a few aristocrats including the brother of Louis XIV, Molière procured a command performance before the King at the Louvre. Performing a classic play by Pierre Corneille and a farce of his own, Le Docteur amoureux (The Doctor in Love), Molière was granted the use of Salle du Petit-Bourbon at the Louvre, a spacious room appointed for theatrical performances. Later, Molière was granted the use of the Palais-Royal. In both locations he found success among the Parisians with plays such as Les Précieuses ridicules (The Affected Ladies), L'École des maris (The School for Husbands) and L'École des femmes (The School for Wives). This royal favour brought a royal pension to his troupe and the title "Troupe du Roi" (The King's Troupe). Molière continued as the official author of court entertainments.

Though he received the adulation of the court and Parisians, Molière's satires attracted criticisms from moralists and the Church. Tartuffe ou l'Imposteur (Tartuffe or the Hypocrite) and its attack on religious hypocrisy roundly received condemnations from the Church while Don Juan was banned from performance. Molière's hard work in so many theatrical capacities began to take its toll on his health and, by 1667, he was forced to take a break from the stage. In 1673, during a production of his final play, Le Malade imaginaire (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. In his time in Paris, Molière had completely reformed French comedy.
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Average rating: 3.70 · 37,597 ratings · 846 reviews · 221 distinct works · Similar authors

	Tartuffe by Molière, Martin Sorrell (Translation) 3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 avg rating — 11,468 ratings — published 1664 — 139 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Misanthrope 3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 avg rating — 7,326 ratings — published 1666 — 71 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Le Bourgeois gentilhomme 3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 avg rating — 2,875 ratings — published 1670 — 86 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Don Juan by Molière, Richard Wilbur (Translator) 3.66 of 5 stars 3.66 avg rating — 2,669 ratings — published 1665 — 76 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	L'Avare 3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 avg rating — 2,791 ratings — published 1668 — 122 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Le Malade imaginaire 3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 avg rating — 2,205 ratings — published 1673 — 102 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	L'École des Femmes 3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 avg rating — 1,537 ratings — published 1662 — 55 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Misanthrope and Other Plays by Molière, David Coward (Annotations), John Wood (Translation) 3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 avg rating — 1,083 ratings — published 1666 — 16 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Les Fourberies de Scapin 3.61 of 5 stars 3.61 avg rating — 991 ratings — published 1671 — 50 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Le Médecin malgré lui by Molière, Marie-Helene Prat (Editeur) 3.68 of 5 stars 3.68 avg rating — 760 ratings — published 1666 — 44 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by Molière

“Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money.”
― Molière

tags: writing

165 people liked it

“Trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.”
― Molière

tags: inspirational, patience

98 people liked it

“It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.”
― Molière

tags: sins-of-omission

87 people liked it

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Molière

Author profile

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Quotes by Molière

Topics Mentioning This Author

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Molière's Books