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Molière

  • Jean-Baptiste Poquelin
Sort Name
Molière
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Type
Person
Gender
Male
Date of birth
1622-01-15
Place of birth
Paris
Date of death
1973-02-17
Place of death
Paris

Wikipedia

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ batist pɔklɛ̃]; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (UK: , US: , French: [mɔljɛʁ]), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the great writers in the French language and world literature. His extant works include comedies, farces, tragicomedies, comédie-ballets, and more. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed at the Comédie-Française more often than those of any other playwright today. His influence is such that the French language is often referred to as the "language of Molière".

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 comedic abilities while he began writing, combining Commedia dell'arte elements with the more refined French comedy.

Through the patronage of 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, 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, he was granted the use of the theatre in the Palais-Royal. In both locations, Molière found success among Parisians with plays such as The Affected Ladies, The School for Husbands, and 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.

Despite the adulation of the court and Parisians, Molière's satires attracted criticism from other circles. For Tartuffe's impiety, the Catholic Church in France denounced this study of religious hypocrisy, which was followed by a ban by the Parlement, while Dom Juan was withdrawn and never restaged by Molière. His hard work in so many theatrical capacities took 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, 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.

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Annotation

French playwright, actor and poet.

Last modified: 2023-02-10 (revision #116897)

Editions

NameFormatISBNRelease Date
Der MenschenfeindPaperback3-458-32101-22002
Tartuffe (Molière, English)eBook?2021-07-15
Œuvres complètes, IIHardcover97820701174202010-05-17
Œuvres complètes, IIHardcover97820710000421932-11-02
Amphitryon: Komödie in drei Akten und einem Vorspiel (yellow cover)Paperback978-3-15-008488-52007
Œuvres complètes (coffret)Hardcover97820701289902010-05-17
SaituriHardcover?1967
Œuvres complètes, IHardcover97820701036071972-02-23
Die gelehrten Frauen (yellow cover)Paperback3-15-000113-71995
Œuvres complètes, IIHardcover97820701036141972-02-23
Œuvres complètes, IHardcover97820710000351932-11-02
1622–1673 (coffret)Hardcover97820728606212022-01-06
Œuvres complètes, IHardcover97820701174132010-05-17
Komödien I: Der Wirrkopf / Die lächerlichen Schwärmerinnen / Sganarell oder Der vermeintlich BetrogenePaperback3-257-20199-01975
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Identifiers

ISNI
0000 0001 2319 7131
MusicBrainz Artist ID
d00eb657-1a93-4e8b-adb6-5b5fa8c38395
OpenLibrary Author ID
OL6899222A
VIAF
2474502
Wikidata ID
Q687

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Last Modified
2024-03-15