Art and Reflections

Moliere (Jean-Baptiste Poquelin 1622-1673) has always been a favorite of mine, even as a young student. Look at how I marked-up this copy of Les Precieuses Ridicules with a green fountain pen, the ones with ink cartridges.

I know now what it was about his writing. He used satire and the stage to suggest unattractive social norms. It’s the best way to get around everyone’s press secretary. Entertain people while messaging their unlovely excesses. He tackled all the big institutions. Here are some of his major works:

1. Tartuffe (1664) – A scathing critique of religious hypocrisy, this play was initially banned by religious authorities but became one of his most famous works.
2. The Misanthrope (1666) – A comedy that critiques human nature and the contradictions between honesty and social niceties.
3. The Imaginary Invalid (1673) – A satirical look at the medical profession, mocking hypochondria and medical quackery.
4. The School for Wives (1662) – A comedy about marriage and the education of women, which caused scandal for its themes of control and virtue.