Neoclassical French Comedy Distinctions between genres important Tragedy noble characters comedy middle class Comedy is less concerned with the unities Comedy under less scrutiny than tragedy but still expected to promote morality Also arranged performances for King s Court Moliere 1622 1673 Real name Jean Baptiste Poquelin Playwright and actor manager Career had many ups and downs Companies went bankrupt Had to tour outside of Paris Major plays include Tartuffe 1664 The Misanthrope 1666 The Imaginary Invalid 1673 Moliere s Aesthetics Influence of Commedia dell Arte Plays tend to be satirical mocking respected members of society Comedy criticizes customs through humor Jean de Santeuil Farce Popular with audiences often not with those in power Moliere was careful not to mock the monarch Major characters in Tartuffe Madame Pernelle Orgon s mother Elmire Orgon s second wife stepmother of Damis and Mariane Damis Orgon s son Mariane Orgon s daughter engaged to Valere Cleante Elmire s mother Dorine Mariene s outspoken maid Orgon Father of the house follower of Tartuffe Valere Engaged to Mariane Tartuffe the hypocrite Tartuffe or The Hypocrite 1664 First performed at the palace of Versaille in front of King Louis XIV Offense taken by Jansenists Censored by the king Went through several revisions Final messenger as deus ex machine Moliere plays Orgon not Tartuffe
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