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Essay Subject: Examines French playwright's exposure of evils of his society through his comedies, incl. "Le Tartuffe," "Le Misanthrope," "Le Bourgeois Gentleman."... More...

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Paper Abstract: Examines French playwright's exposure of evils of his society through his comedies, incl. "Le Tartuffe," "Le Misanthrope," "Le Bourgeois Gentleman." Paper Introduction: Renowned to the Parisian theatergoers and the members of Louis XIV’s court for his farces and comedies, as a writer, director and actor, Moliere surpassed all his contemporaries in the mid-seventeenth century (Mander 16). His popularity can be attributed to his ability to entertain them in all aspects. Facing a diverse audience of the city’s upper and upper middle-classes, the aristocrats, court officials and the royal family, Moliere’s works present a cast of characters which mirrors his audience (Mander 18). Furthermore, he tapped into the spirit of his age by capturing realistically the lives of his audience and incorporating it into his art. In addition to entertaining his audience with the realistic portrayal of Parisian life, Moliere also sought to illuminate the inherent hollowness of the existing conventions of high socie Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. Anotheraspect of the family structure illustrated in Le Tartuffe is thepaternalistic system. Even while Moliere entertained his audience with the antics ofM. People'slives were threatened when they offended aristocrats who had connections tothe King's Court, however trivial the offense may be. In a subtle way, Moliere's presentation of the danger of this falsegossip reflects a very realistic aspect of French society. "The Misanthrope." The Misanthrope and Other Plays. A.R. Through his keen observation of the environmentaround him, he infused life into traditional stereotypical figures ofpopular and local comedy and transformed them into contemporaries (Mander28). 23-76.--. The oneswho saw the King the most were regarded as the most influential people insociety. In Le Misanthrope, Acaste, the marquis, crows about his favorableposition in society because he "stands well with His Majesty" (48; Act 3).Thus, Celimene does not wish to antagonize him by refusing his visitsbecause she knows that he can harm her denouncing her to the King. Under the guise of entertainment and comedy, Moliere addressedmany serious concerns of Parisian society. Their tyranny is illustrated in thescene when Orgon compels Mariane to marry Tartuffe: "That you are fond ofhim, and would rejoice/To take him as your husband, by my choice" (2.1.443-444). The interaction between the classes of the rigid social hierarchypresented in Moliere's plays corresponds to the actual practices of Frenchsociety in the seventeenth century. The ruthlessness of these paternal figures reflects the dangers of thetimes posed by the dominating institutions, such as the Church and theState. Trans. That pretensious bore! Descending down the social hierarchy, in Le Bourgeois Gentleman, M.Jourdain's aspiration to become a gentleman derives its context fromreality where the middle class suffered from a lack of prestige in theseventeenth-century French society (Benichou 63). Renowned to the Parisian theatergoers and the members of Louis XIV'scourt for his farces and comedies, as a writer, director and actor, Molieresurpassed all his contemporaries in the mid-seventeenth century (Mander16). Jourdain, epitomizes the egotistical abuse oftheir power to control their children. Dorante, the pennilessaristocrat, is able to manipulate M. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1964. Moliere's compromised attitude isreflected in Philinte's words: "What is needed in society is anaccommodating virtue... Many people of power,who identified with the piety of Tartuffe, considered themselves to be thetargets of Moliere's critique. Furthermore, for Moliere, life is a human spectacle where eachindividual member is an actor putting on performances. "The Anti-Bourgeois." Moliere: A Collection of Critical Essays. Trans. Moliere also introduced a social issue that preoccupied families inthe seventeenth century. At the time,Louis XIV had moved from Le Louvre in the heart of the city, to Versaille,far away from the dwellings of his subjects (Gossman 237). Jourdain into lending him more moneyby promising to "render [his] service at Court" (147; 3.6). He cannever throw off his lordly manner" (44; Act 2). For example, Tartuffe captures the admirationof Orgon by his display of holiness: "Such warmth and zeal he put into hisprayer;/His transports were extreme, his sighs profound;/Each moment hewould stoop and kiss the ground" (1.5.286-288). The paternalisticsystem is also illustrated in The Bourgeois Gentleman. Ed. A delicate balance of power wasstruck between the two religious groups with the concession of power to themonarch, the head of State (Gossman 166). " Le Bourgeois Gentleman." The Plays of Moliere. the privilege of making theiropinions heard in court circles... To the people in power, the playhad the potential of arousing revolutionary thoughts against the Church andthe State by encouraging independent thinking. Mariane, Orgon'sdaughter, is expected to obey her father's every wish. Waller. However, in this play, Moliere's main intention was to unveil themasks of people who hide their egotistical behavior behind a façade ofreligious piety to the world. After all, his satireswere considered so powerful that Le Tartuffe had to be banned for fear thatit would trigger a revolution. Amidst the song and dance of Le Bourgeois Gentleman, Moliereexposed the follies of an affluent bourgeois tradesman who would trade thestability of his life for that of an impoverished aristocrat. In LeTartuffe, especially in the scenes following the revelation of Tartuffe'streachery, Orgon's family comes together in the fight against Tartuffe'splots, displaying the strong kinship of the family unit (5.5; 5.7). 6 -68.Gossman, Lionel. "Tartuffe." Tartuffe and Other Plays: Moliere. Thus, he hadattained Alceste's dream of retreating into a remote place, away frommainstream society. In Le Misanthrope, he unveiledthe masks of the players in high society who engaged in the game offlattery, only to backstab others when they are absent. Diana Stone Peters. His audience could identify with the dynamics in relationships betweenthe bourgeoisie and the aristocrats, husbands and wives, parents andchildren. New York: Frederick Ungar, 1973.Moliere. Admirable" (34;Act 1). Trans. Vol. Even though Moliere enjoyed the patronage of the King and the court,he was not granted dramatic license to tackle any subject. Lucile, aword from your lips can appease my heart's troubles! His play, LeTartuffe, stirred up tremendous controversy and was banned for five yearsby the King, the Church and the State before it was permitted to beperformed in its current version (Mander 87). On a more serious note, Orgon was forced toflee for his life when Tartuffe denounced him to the King. His popularity can be attributed to his ability to entertain them inall aspects. Everyone engages ina game of playacting; the comic figures, such as Orgon and M. It is a testimony to Moliere'sconsummate skills as a writer and an observer of his times that he was ableto incorporate his serious themes of abusive authority, false piety andhypocritical behavior into his plays (Mander 22). By daring to rebel againsttraditional parental authority, they exemplify the vitality of the humanspirit in their struggle for their freedom. A lovely ending - charming! Jourdain, none of the family members, including MadameJourdain, can remove his decision-making power over his daughter'smarriage. Moliere's conception of thecharacter Tartuffe--a man of God--who turned out to be treacherous and evilchallenged the stability of the power structure of the religiousinstitutions and their position within the society. Moliere's greatest strength as a playwright lies in his realisticportrayal of Parisian life. Therefore, althoughMoliere voiced his criticisms through Alceste who criticizes vehemently thesuperficiality of upper class society, ultimately he did not concur withAlceste's desire to retreat into the "rustic solitude" to escape the "evilmanners of the age" (74; Act 5). In contrast, the behavior oftheir fathers, Orgon and M. Even though hewould incur the wrath of the religious and secular establishments, Molieredid not refrain from his powerful portrayal of the evils of false piety inLe Tartuffe. Though they can do you no good they maydo you harm" (4 ; Act 2). Beyond providing a mere description of the conventions of seventeenthcentury society, Moliere exerted his impact through his works bydemonstrating the inherent emptiness of the conventions of the socialhierarchy. John Wood. Her mockery serves as aform of entertainment for her guests, such as Acaste and Clitandre, whoapplaud her "performances": "You are wonderful at hitting people off" (44,Act 2). Trans. Apart from portraying the social hierarchy realistically, Moliere'simage of the family also resonates with emotion and realism. The controversy over Le Tartuffe arose during the mid-17th centurywhen France had just emerged from many years of violence between theCatholics and Protestants (Walker 82). His plays presented the same issues that concerned them (Mander28). Facing a diverse audience of the city's upper and upper middle-classes, the aristocrats, court officials and the royal family, Moliere'sworks present a cast of characters which mirrors his audience (Mander 18).Furthermore, he tapped into the spirit of his age by capturingrealistically the lives of his audience and incorporating it into his art. His discussion on class differences is echoed inMadame Jourdain's description of the complications of an inter-classmarriage in a class-conscious society: "If she were to come and visit me ina carriage as a grand lady, and inadvertently forget to salute any onebelonging to our neighborhood, all kinds of sarcastic things would besaid..." (173; 3.12). Donald M. For example, after clearing up a misunderstanding with Lucile,Cleonte unabashedly professes his heartfelt love to Lucile: "Ah! Works CitedBenichou, Paul. Furthermore, like Tartuffe, he seemed to be moreconcerned with the higher things than with mere people (Gossman 237).Without direct contact with his subjects, the King relied upon the hearsayof the nobles who vied to gain attendance with the King at court. How easily are wepersuaded by those we love" (167; 3.1 ). 235-312. In Le Tartuffe, Tartuffe's influence in theKing's Court allows him to endanger Orgon's life by denouncing him to theKing (5.7.1835-39). Unlike the King, Moliere never lost touch with the people and the lifeof Paris-the subjects of his plays. In addition, Celimenejustifies her behavior of allowing all men to visit her because "[the]goodwill of such people is important... Baltimore: John Hopkins, 1963.Mander, Gertrude. Jacques Guicharnaud. In Le Misanthrope, Moliere painted thepicture of a society where members of high society ingratiate themselveswith influential people, such as court officials and aristocrats close tothe King. Philinte's excessive praises of Oronte's verse offer a good exampleof this fawning behavior: "Oh! In a time when people cowered under theauthoritarianism of the ruling establishments, Moliere displayed rarecourage by creating plays that aimed to reveal the evils of his society. New York: New American Library, 1967. With Le Tartuffe and Le Misanthrope, Moliere also offered his audiencea glimpse into the inherent dangers of the seventeenth century. For example, Philinte asks Alceste if he has "[called] on the anyof the judges" (29; Act 1) about his lawsuit. In addition to entertaining his audience with the realistic portrayalof Parisian life, Moliere also sought to illuminate the inherent hollownessof the existing conventions of high society. 7. Jourdain in his superficial endeavors to become an aristocrat, he alsoillustrated the vanity of the gestures of the aristocrats (Gossman 232).The meaninglessness of the actions of the higher class is capturedbrilliantly in Le Misanthrope in the scene where Celimene makes a mockeryof the aristocrats behind their back: "Oh! The young people, such as Marianeand Valere in Le Tartuffe (2.4) and Lucile and Cleonte in The BourgeoisGentleman (3.1 ), display committed and passionate love towards oneanother. Valere's warningto Orgon demonstrates the extent of the danger: "Delay is fatal, sir, eventhe least" (5.7.1848). Nonetheless, Moliere conceded that it was better to have an imperfectsociety than to have no society at all. Ultimately, he is the one who has to consent to the marriage,even though he is deceived into thinking that his daughter is marrying theson of the Grand Turk (221; 5.5). Thus, when Alcesterefuses to praise Oronte's writing, he is summoned to appear before theMarshals of France (47; Act 2). Moliere. Edinburgh: John Grant, 1926. Frame. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1959. It demands too much perfection of mere mortals"(29; Act 1). In Moliere's time, the father was the ultimatedecision-maker in deciding his children's marriage. Although theyridicule M. 77-224.--. However, behind Orgon'sback, Tartuffe tries to seduce Elmire, Orgon's wife, without conceding thehypocrisy of his own action: "I may be pious, but I'm still a man.../And ifyou think I've put myself to shame,/It's your bewitching charms that are toblame" (3.3.996, 971-972). Thus, behind the façadeof harmless jokes and entertainment, Moliere made profound statements aboutsociety and humanity in the French society of the seventeenth century.Moliere's impact on his society cannot be underestimated because of theapparently lightness of the quality of his plays. His plays capture vividly the life andthe issues of Parisians of all classes, ranging from the aristocrats to thepeasants. Jourdan, arethe ones who fail to recognize this reality and allow themselves to bedeceived by the dazzle of the empty signs and titles. In his description of the family unit, Moliere attacked theauthoritarianism of parents who misused their power to impose unlovingsuitors on their daughters (Mander 38). Men & Masks: A Study of Moliere. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.