Molière, página 6 de 23

Arnolphe s'est modelé une femme à sa convenance : il a élevé Agnès, une jeune orpheline, loin du monde et l'a écartée de tout savoir. La sachant gardée par deux domestiques aussi naïfs qu'elle, il es

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Arnolphe, riche vieillard ridicule et jaloux, est convaincu que beaucoup d'or et quelques précautions lui permettront de conquérir le coeur d'Agnès, sa jeune et jolie pupille. La pièce est accompagnée de la comédie en un acte écrite par Molière pour répondre a ses détracteurs. Le texte intégral des deux pièces est suivi d'un dossier critique et de repères sur le contexte des oeuvres.

In Molieres captivating comedy, "The Countess of Escarbagnas," the playwright masterfully blends sharp wit with astute social commentary, presenting a tapestry of 17th-century French societal norms and individual folly. The play revolves around the charming yet naive Countess, ensnared in the duplicitous machinations of suitors vying for her affection, wholly primered in Molieres signature style of biting humor and character-driven narratives. The intricate interplay of deception, love, and societal expectation resonates throughout the text, creating a rich literary context that reflects the eras emerging themes of romantic entanglement and identity crisis within the aristocracy. Moliere, a luminary of French literature and a pioneer of comedic theater, drew upon his own experiences with the diverse social strata of France to inform this work. His keen observations of human behavior, coupled with his theatrical background, allowed him to craft characters that are both ludicrous and relatable, bridging the gap between the audience and the stage. Molieres insights into the follies of love and pretense harmonize with the comedic elements, offering a profound exploration of societal truths intertwined with entertainment. "The Countess of Escarbagnas" is essential reading for those interested in the evolution of theater and social commentary. Moliere deftly invites readers to reflect upon the absurdities of desire and the masks we wear, making it a timeless piece that resonates with contemporary themes. This play is a delightful concoction of laughter and insight, ensuring its place in the pantheon of classic literature.

The Misanthrope, a comedy of manners in five acts and in verse, was written by Moliere in 1666.It is one of the best of Molieres plays and one of the greatest of all comedies spotlighting the absurdities of social and literary pretension."The Misanthrope" is set in the fashionable social milieu of seventeenth-century Paris. Alceste, the misanthrope of the title, is disgusted by the hypocrisy, injustice, and overall corruption in human society. Alcestes concern with the Issue of justice has to do with the fact that he is embroiled m several lawsuits, the outcome of which are determined not by which party is in the right but by who has the most influence in court. Nonetheless, Alceste is in love with Celimene, a young widow with a reputation for flirtation and for surrounding herself with suitors and who is a prime example of the insincerity that Alceste despises in others. In the final act, Celimene is confronted by all of her suitors for her lack of honesty when they discover that she has promised her love to each of them while ridiculing each of the others behind his back. Finally, fed up with society and fearing the consequences of various legal battles, Alceste vows to run off and live in seclusion in the wilderness.This play satirises the hypocrisies of French aristocratic society, but it also engages a more serious tone when pointing out the flaws, which all humans possess. The play differs from other farces at the time by employing dynamic characters like Alceste and Celimene as opposed to the traditionally flat characters used by most satirists to criticise problems in society. It also differs from most of Molieres other works by focusing more on character development and nuances than on plot progression. The play, though not a commercial success in its time, survives as Molieres best-known work today. Much of its universal appeal is due to common undercurrents of misanthropy across cultural borders.

Trans.: Philip Dwight Jones

Anniversaire Molière : 400 ans ! Nouvelle édition avec cahier photos conforme aux programmes. Dossier pédagogique d'Audrey Fredon. Octave et Léandre cherchent à déjouer l'autorité de leurs vieux pè