Moliere | Brief Biography
Moliere | Brief Biography
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, better known by his stage name Moliere, was a French playwright and actor who lived from 1622 to 1673. He is widely considered one of the greatest playwrights in the French language and a master of comedy.
Moliere was born into a wealthy family in Paris and was initially educated to follow in his father’s footsteps as an upholsterer. However, he soon discovered a passion for the theater and decided to pursue a career as an actor and playwright. In 1643, he formed his own theater company, the Illustre Théâtre, and began producing his own plays.
Moliere’s early plays were met with mixed success, but he soon found his footing with the production of “The School for Wives” in 1662. This play was a huge hit and cemented Molière’s reputation as a master of comedy. He went on to write several more successful plays, including “Tartuffe,” “The Miser,” and “The Imaginary Invalid.”
Moliere’s plays were renowned for their wit, satire, and social commentary. He used the medium of theater to criticize the social and moral values of his time, particularly the hypocrisy of the French aristocracy. For this reason, his work was often controversial and elicited strong reactions from audiences.
Despite his success, Moliere faced numerous challenges throughout his career. He was frequently censured by the Catholic Church for the content of his plays, and several of his productions were banned. He was also often criticized for his acting style, which was seen as unconventional and inappropriate by some members of the French establishment.
Despite these challenges, Moliere continued to write and perform, and his work had a profound impact on French theater. He is credited with inventing the comédie-ballet, a form of play that combined elements of comedy, dance, and music. He also helped to establish the modern theater as a legitimate art form, paving the way for future generations of playwrights.
Moliere died in 1673 while performing in one of his own plays, “The Imaginary Invalid.” He was only 51 years old at the time of his death, but his legacy lived on, and his work continues to be widely performed and studied today. 0 0 0.
Sources:
The Oxford Companion to French Literature
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Norton Anthology of Western Literature
Molière: A Theatrical Life by Albert Bermel
Molière: His Life and Times by Richard Wilbur. ***
N.B. The article originally belongs to the book entitled ‘Biographies of Writers Around the World‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
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