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| Molière by Pierre Mignard (1612-1695) |
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Location: 40 Rue du Richelieu
English translation
"Born in Paris in 1622, the son of a wealthy bourgeois, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin was seized by a passion for the stage at the age of twenty, after a solid education. But the Illustre Théâtre went bankrupt, and the small troupe embarked on a thirteen-year tour of the provinces: their success enabled him to return to the capital. In 1659, The Affected Ladies (Les précieuses ridicules) triumphed, and Molière became famous; supported by Louis XIV, this free spirit pushed boundaries and provoked scandal, with works such as The School for Wives (L'Ecole des femmes), Tartuffe and finally Don Juan (Dom Juan). In 1673, he succeeded in obtaining the dressing gown and nightcap of a neighbour, Councillor Foucault, famous throughout the neighbourhood for his habit of wearing them all the time, and donned them to create the role of Argan. Exhausted by a life of ceaseless toil as author, actor, troupe director, stage director and creator of royal entertainments, Molière died here on the evening of February 17, just after the 4th performance of The Imaginary Invalid (Le Malade imaginaire)." (Translated by DeepL and ChatGPT)
Background notes
- Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (1622-1673) adopted the stage name "Molière" around 1644, possibly to protect his family from the social stigma associated with acting, which was not a highly regarded profession at the time.
- Molière was a French playwright, actor, and poet. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and a master of comedy in Western literature. Molière primarily wrote comedies, including farces, comedy-ballets, and satire. Molière's impact on French theatre and language was so significant that French is sometimes referred to as "the language of Molière."
- The Illustre Théâtre was founded in 1643 by Molière and Madeleine Béjart. The troupe aimed to establish a permanent theatre in Paris but struggled financially due to lack of audience and competition. After the theatre's bankruptcy in 1645, Molière was briefly jailed for debts. Following this, the troupe left Paris and toured the provinces for about 13 years. They survived by performing for provincial audiences and gaining patronage from local nobility, which provided them with financial support.
- Louis XIV became a patron of Molière’s troupe, granting them royal protection, financial support (a pension), and the title of "Troupe du Roi" (The King’s Troupe). This patronage provided stability and elevated Molière’s career. Molière first performed for Louis XIV’s court in 1658 with The Love-Sick Doctor (although the specific dates and play are debated).
- Molière’s plays were scandalous because they challenged the established norms and authority figures of his time: Tartuffe criticised religious hypocrisy, angering the Church and leading to its initial ban. The School for Wives mocked societal expectations of women, provoking debates about morality and gender roles. Don Juan attacked aristocratic pretensions and religious sanctimony. These themes often outraged conservative audiences and powerful institutions like the Church.
- His marriage to Armande Béjart in 1662 (when he was 40 and she was around 20) caused scandal and influenced several of his works. Armande was the sister (or possibly daughter) of Madeleine Béjart, Molière's former lover and longtime collaborator.
- The anecdote about Molière borrowing a dressing gown and nightcap from his neighbor, Councillor Foucault, relates to his creation of the character Argan in The Imaginary Invalid. Argan, a hypochondriac, mirrored Foucault’s eccentricity of always wearing these garments.
- Molière collapsed on February 17, 1673, during the fourth performance of The Imaginary Invalid, at the Palais-Royal theatre near where he lived. He suffered a severe coughing fit and died later that evening at his home (40 Rue du Richelieu). He was suffering from tuberculosis exacerbated by overwork.
- Due to the Catholic Church's position that actors couldn't receive last rites or be buried in consecrated ground, Molière's burial was controversial. Only through the King's intervention was he eventually given a night-time church burial. Years later, his ashes were moved to the Père-Lachaise cemetery.
- The Comédie-Française (who perform near the Palais Royal in the Salle Richelieu) was created by merging Molière's former troupe (then led by his widow) with other theatre companies. It is often called "La Maison de Molière" (Molière's House) and remains France's most prestigious theatre company.
- While the building where Molière lived and died has been extensively renovated, it retains its facade, roof and main staircase classified as historical monuments.
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| 40 Rue de Richelieu |
