Moliere

Moliere is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and famous French

writers ever. His comedic plays capture the reader with a a perfect blend

of intelligent and slap stick jokes. He mastered the "strange enterprise of

amusing decent people"(Guicharnaud, 2) with this simple philosophy: "Nothing

is more effective(in making people laugh) then holding up the mirror to

nature."(Guicharnaud, 21)

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin was born in Paris on January 15, 1662. His father

and Mother where both interior decorators for the king, although his mother

died when Jean-Baptise was ten years of age. He was sent to College de

Claremont, an aristocratic Jesuit institution. Poquelin took a degree in law,

which he never used in practice, and moved back to work with his father. When

he turned of age, he shocked his family by declaring he would not succeed his

fathers position. Instead , he took the stage name "Moliere", and began his

career as a thespian. He spent a short time in a debtor's prison and then

immediately fled Paris. Thus began the most important stage in Moliere's

young life.

Moliere wondered about France, learning the trade of which he would

eventually master, and become famous for. He learned how to handle everything

about the stage. From writing, to acting, to controlling unhappy crowds that

where armed with fruits and vegetables as missiles. Immediately, his own

skits and plays where a success. His entire career was almost one of

continuous success. He worked his own theater, with his own

troupe(organization of actors) of which he was president. Louis the XIV was

one of his biggest patrons. For fifteen years he managed, wrote, acted and

organized performance at his theater. On February 17, 1673 Moli...

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... to make them realize there false

preciosity. He succeeds in mortifying them, and they depart from his home.

In his time, the effort towards distinction became very popular. Although

to us some of the ridulous antics of the two girls trying to seem prestigous

are too far fetched to be realistic, they are "exact, not

exagerated."(Bishop, 3) In writing it, he made many realize how ridiculous

their actions where, maybe aleaving his anoyance. This practice though, still

exists today. Too a good portion of the poplulation it will be a way of life.

Now a days many young people attempt to be "cool" by buying the latest

clothes and practicing all the latest trends. This is of course an effort to

be more prestigious to there peers, and thus is human nature. As with all

Moliere plays, they are still relevant in todays world, after all human

nature is ageless.