Neoclassical French ComedyDistinctions 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 moralityMoliere (1622-1673)--Real name: Jean-Baptiste Poquelin--Playwright and actor/manager--Also arranged performances for King’s Court--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 monarchMajor 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 hypocriteTartuffe, 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
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