Molière

Playwright, Author

1622 – 1673

106

Who was Molière?

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. Among Molière's best-known works are Le Misanthrope, L'École des Femmes, Tartuffe ou L'Imposteur, L'Avare, Le Malade Imaginaire, and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme.

Born into a prosperous family and having studied at the Collège de Clermont, 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.

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, 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 theatre in the Palais-Royal. In both locations he found success among the Parisians with plays such as Les Précieuses ridicules, L'École des Maris and L'École des Femmes. This royal favor brought a royal pension to his troupe and the title "Troupe du Roi". Molière continued as the official author of court entertainments.

Famous Quotes:

  • We often marry in despair, so that we repent of it all our life after.
  • We always speak well when we manage to be understood.
  • Frenchmen have an unlimited capacity for gallantry and indulge it on every occasion.
  • The more we love our friends, the less we flatter them; it is by excusing nothing that pure love shows itself.
  • Love is often the fruit of marriage.
  • He must have killed a lot of men to have made so much money.
  • Books and marriage go ill together.
  • The less we deserve good fortune, the more we hope for it.
  • Without knowledge, life is not more than the shadow of death.
  • Of all follies there is none greater than wanting to make the world a better place.

We need you!

Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!

Born
Jan 15, 1622
Paris
Also known as
  • Jean-Baptiste Poquelin
  • Moliere
  • Jean Baptiste Poquelin
  • Jean Baptiste Poquelin (Moliere)
  • Jean-Baptiste Moliere
  • Jean Baptiste Moliere
Parents
Siblings
Spouses
Children
Ethnicity
  • French people
Nationality
  • France
Profession
Education
  • Lycée Louis-le-Grand
Lived in
  • Paris
Died
Feb 17, 1673
Paris
Resting place
Père Lachaise Cemetery

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Molière." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/moliere>.

Discuss this Molière biography with the community:

0 Comments

    Browse Biographies.net