Molière, biographie en anglais

Molière

This article is about the French playwright. For other uses, see Molière (disambiguation).

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin

Portrait of Molière by Pierre Mignard

Born January 15, 1622

Paris, France

Died February 17, 1673 (aged 51)

Paris, France

Pen name Molière

Occupation Play writer, actor and stage manager

Nationality French

Period 1645-1673

Genres Comedy

Notable work(s) Tartuffe; The Misanthrope; The Learned Women; The School for Wives; L'Avare

Spouse(s) Armande Béjart

Partner(s) Madeleine Béjart

Children Louis (1664 – 1664)

Marie Madeleine (1665 – 1723)

Pierre (1672 – 1672)

French literature portal

Portrait of Molière by Nicolas Mignard

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, (French pronunciation: ​[mɔ'ljɛʁ]; baptised January 15, 1622 – February 17, 1673) was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature.[1] Among Molière's best-known works are Le Misanthrope (The Misanthrope), L'École des Femmes (The School for Wives), Tartuffe ou L'Imposteur (Tartuffe or the Imposter), L'Avare (The Miser), Le Malade Imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid), and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (The Bourgeois Gentleman).

Born into a prosperous family and having studied at the Collège de Clermont (now Lycée Louis-le-Grand), Molière was well suited to begin a life in the theatre. Thirteen years as an itinerant actor helped him polish his comic abilities while he began writing, combining Commedia dell'arte elements with the more refined French comedy.[2]

Through the patronage of a few aristocrats, including Philippe I, Duke of Orléans – 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 near 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 favor 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.[3]

Though he received the adulation of the court and Parisians, Molière's satires attracted criticisms from moralists and the Roman Catholic Church. Tartuffe

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