1717thth Century Century French Theatre French Theatre

andandThe The

MisanthropeMisanthrope

Historical ContextHistorical Context Religious controversies in Religious controversies in

the XVI century that the XVI century that continued in the XVII continued in the XVII century led to Absolutismcentury led to Absolutism

Cardinal Richelieu served Cardinal Richelieu served as Louis XIII “prime as Louis XIII “prime minister” – established minister” – established strong central governmentstrong central government

Set during the rule of Louis Set during the rule of Louis XIV – The Sun KingXIV – The Sun King

France the cultural center France the cultural center of Europeof Europe

The Neoclassical IdealThe Neoclassical Ideal ofof TheaterTheater

Only two legitimate Only two legitimate forms of drama: forms of drama:

♣ ♣ tragedy tragedy ♣ ♣ comedy comedy

Tragedy deals with Tragedy deals with affairs ofaffairs of

the state the state Comedy deals with loveComedy deals with love

The two should never be The two should never be mixedmixed

Neoclassicists: the Neoclassicists: the purposepurpose of drama of drama is is to teachto teach and and to to pleaseplease

Opera came to Opera came to France in the France in the second half of the second half of the century century

Theaters and Theaters and theatrical theatrical companiescompanies In addition to public theaters, plays were produced in private In addition to public theaters, plays were produced in private

residences, before the court and in the universityresidences, before the court and in the university The public, the humanist theater of the colleges and the The public, the humanist theater of the colleges and the

theater performed at court showed extremely divergent theater performed at court showed extremely divergent tastes tastes

- tragicomedy was fashionable at the court - tragicomedy was fashionable at the court - the public was more interested in tragedy- the public was more interested in tragedy

The early theaters in Paris were often placed in existing The early theaters in Paris were often placed in existing structures like tennis courts: structures like tennis courts:

- stages were extremely narrow- stages were extremely narrow - facilities for sets and scene changes were often non- - facilities for sets and scene changes were often non-

existentexistent

Eventually, theaters would develop systems of elaborate Eventually, theaters would develop systems of elaborate machines and decorsmachines and decors

Theater performances took Theater performances took place twice a week place twice a week

Theatrical representations Theatrical representations often encompassed several often encompassed several works:works:

a comic prologue, a a comic prologue, a tragedy or tragicomedy, a tragedy or tragicomedy, a farce and finally a songfarce and finally a song

Nobles sometimes sat on the Nobles sometimes sat on the side side

of the stage during the of the stage during the performanceperformanceThe audience was always The audience was always

aware aware of each otherof each otherSpectators were notably vocal Spectators were notably vocal during performancesduring performances

- The place directly in front of the - The place directly in front of the

stage, without seats(the "parterre“) stage, without seats(the "parterre“) was reserved for menwas reserved for men

- It was usually a mix of social groups - It was usually a mix of social groups - Elegant people watched the show - Elegant people watched the show

from the galleriesfrom the galleries - Princes, musketeers and royal pages - Princes, musketeers and royal pages

were given free entrywere given free entry - Before 1630, a honest woman did - Before 1630, a honest woman did

not go to the theaternot go to the theater Unlike England, France placed no Unlike England, France placed no

restrictions on women performing on restrictions on women performing on stagestage

But the career of actors of either sex But the career of actors of either sex was seen as morally wrong by the was seen as morally wrong by the Catholic church and by the religious Catholic church and by the religious Janseanist movementJanseanist movement

Actors typically had fantastic stage Actors typically had fantastic stage names that described typical roles or names that described typical roles or stereotypical charactersstereotypical characters

Main requirements of a Main requirements of a neoclassical dramaneoclassical drama

Five actsFive acts UnityUnity - time ( 24 hours - time ( 24 hours

only)only) - place ( same place)- place ( same place) - action ( only one - action ( only one

plot)plot) ““Poetic justice” to Poetic justice” to

triumphtriumph

Moliere ( Jean Moliere ( Jean Baptiste Poquelin)Baptiste Poquelin)

1622- 16731622- 1673 Went to a Jesuit schoolWent to a Jesuit school Studied lawStudied law In 1643 joined the Illustre In 1643 joined the Illustre TheatreTheatre Composed 12 of the most Composed 12 of the most

durable and penetratingly durable and penetratingly satirical full-length satirical full-length comedies of all time comedies of all time

As a comic dramatist he ranks with such As a comic dramatist he ranks with such other distinctive masters of the genre as other distinctive masters of the genre as Aristophanes, Plautus, and George Bernard Aristophanes, Plautus, and George Bernard Shaw.Shaw.

Also the leading French comic actor, stage Also the leading French comic actor, stage director, and dramatic theoretician of the director, and dramatic theoretician of the 17th century17th century

Molière affirmed the potency of comedy as Molière affirmed the potency of comedy as a serious, flexible art forma serious, flexible art form

The king's brother became Molière's The king's brother became Molière's patron patron

He is credited with giving the French He is credited with giving the French

““Comedy of manners” andComedy of manners” and““Comedy of character”Comedy of character”

their modern formtheir modern form

Molière advanced Molière advanced from being a gifted from being a gifted adapter of Italian-adapter of Italian-derived sketches and derived sketches and a showman who put a showman who put on extravaganzas to a on extravaganzas to a writer whose best writer whose best plays had the lasting plays had the lasting impact of tragediesimpact of tragedies

He made many He made many enemies - the clergy enemies - the clergy mistakenly believed mistakenly believed that certain of his that certain of his plays were attacks on plays were attacks on the church. Other the church. Other playwrights resented playwrights resented his continual his continual experiments with experiments with comic forms comic forms

Influenced by the Italian Influenced by the Italian commedia dell'artecommedia dell'arte troupes troupes

He applied the He applied the alexandrinealexandrine , to , to a relaxed dialogue that a relaxed dialogue that imitated conversational speechimitated conversational speech

He created a gallery of incisive He created a gallery of incisive portraits: Tartuffe the religious portraits: Tartuffe the religious hypocrite, and Orgon, his hypocrite, and Orgon, his dupe; Jourdain the social dupe; Jourdain the social climber; Don Juan the rebel climber; Don Juan the rebel and libertine; cuckolds such as and libertine; cuckolds such as Arnolphe, Dandin, and Arnolphe, Dandin, and Amphitryon; Alceste the stony Amphitryon; Alceste the stony idealist; Harpagon the miser; idealist; Harpagon the miser; Philaminte the pretentiously Philaminte the pretentiously cultured lady; and many more.cultured lady; and many more.

The DeathThe Death He collapsed on Feb. 17, 1673, after the He collapsed on Feb. 17, 1673, after the

fourth performance of The Imaginary fourth performance of The Imaginary Invalid, and died at home that evening. On Invalid, and died at home that evening. On the night of February 21, he was interred the night of February 21, he was interred in Saint Joseph's Cemetery. in Saint Joseph's Cemetery.

Church leaders refused to officiate or to Church leaders refused to officiate or to grant his body a formal burial. grant his body a formal burial.

Seven years later the king united Molière's Seven years later the king united Molière's company with one of its competitors; since company with one of its competitors; since that time the French national theater, the that time the French national theater, the Comédie Francaise, has been known as Comédie Francaise, has been known as the House of Molière. the House of Molière.

Plays by MolierePlays by MoliereShort plays ( one or two acts):Short plays ( one or two acts): The Jealous HusbandThe Jealous Husband The Flying DoctorThe Flying Doctor SganarelleSganarelle The Rehearsal at VersaillesThe Rehearsal at Versailles The Forced Marriage The Forced Marriage The longer plays (in three or five acts):The longer plays (in three or five acts): The School for HusbandsThe School for Husbands The School for WivesThe School for Wives TartuffeTartuffe Don JuanDon Juan The MisanthropeThe Misanthrope The Doctor in Spite of HimselfThe Doctor in Spite of Himself Amphitryon, The Miser, Amphitryon, The Miser,

George DandinGeorge Dandin, , The Bourgeois GentlemanThe Bourgeois Gentleman, , ScapinScapin, , The Learned LadiesThe Learned Ladies, and , and The Imaginary InvalidThe Imaginary Invalid

The MisanthropeThe Misanthrope

A “misanthrope” is a person with A “misanthrope” is a person with general disgust, hatred, or disdain of the general disgust, hatred, or disdain of the human species or of human naturehuman species or of human nature

First performed in 1666 at the Palais-First performed in 1666 at the Palais-RoyalRoyal

Moliere played the role of Alceste and Moliere played the role of Alceste and his wife, Armande, played Celimenehis wife, Armande, played Celimene

Set in 17Set in 17thth century France during the century France during the reign of the Sun King at the residence of reign of the Sun King at the residence of the upper class. High fashion, court the upper class. High fashion, court intrigue, and gossip all play a role.intrigue, and gossip all play a role.

Mixed Critical ReviewMixed Critical Review

Praised for originality Praised for originality Mixed response because it ridiculed Mixed response because it ridiculed

so many:so many:The literary pretentions and moral The literary pretentions and moral

hypocrisy of the French aristocracyhypocrisy of the French aristocracyThe self-delusion of those who are The self-delusion of those who are

hyper-critical of the society of the hyper-critical of the society of the French aristocracyFrench aristocracy

ThemesThemesHypocrisy – flattery and deceit is used Hypocrisy – flattery and deceit is used

to make way through upper-classto make way through upper-classTactless candor – Alceste counters Tactless candor – Alceste counters

hypocrisy with candor, but he seems hypocrisy with candor, but he seems to enjoy criticizing othersto enjoy criticizing others

Love Gone Wrong – unwillingness to Love Gone Wrong – unwillingness to compromise ruins romancescompromise ruins romances

Power – power at court was used to Power – power at court was used to manipulate othersmanipulate others

Moderation – “nothing in excess”Moderation – “nothing in excess”