Molière defined French comedy and remains a national hero in France. You likely know him for his sharp wit and satire of the upper classes. However, his life was full of tragedy and scandal. He went to prison for debt and married a woman rumors claimed was his daughter. Furthermore, the church refused to bury him because of his profession. He collapsed while playing a man who only pretended to be sick. Let’s explore the life of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin.
Molière
Molière was actually born with the name Jean-Baptiste Poquelin. He only adopted his famous stage name later to spare his father from embarrassment. At the time, society considered acting a shameful profession for a respectable family.
His parents originally expected him to become a royal upholsterer. He even inherited the title of “Tapissier du Roi” from his father. However, he abandoned the steady court job to pursue a risky life in the theater.
He studied law and likely qualified as a lawyer before becoming an actor. He attended the prestigious Collège de Clermont and prepared for a legal career. Nevertheless, he turned his back on the courtroom to perform farces in the streets.
Molière spent time in prison because of his massive debts. His first theater company, the Illustre Théâtre, failed miserably and owed huge sums of money. Fortunately, his father helped bail him out after a short stay in jail.
He wandered the French countryside for thirteen years before finding fame. During this time, he learned how to write comedies and manage a troupe. This long period of touring sharpened his skills before he returned to conquer Paris.
King Louis XIV personally protected him from his many enemies. The church and rival playwrights constantly attacked Molière for his controversial plays.
The church banned his play Tartuffe for five years. Religious leaders felt outraged because the play mocked a hypocritical holy man. Molière had to rewrite the script multiple times before the public was allowed to see it again.
Rumors circulated that his wife, Armande Béjart, was actually his own daughter. His rivals spread this vicious lie because Armande was the sister of his former lover, Madeleine. Historians generally agree she was likely Madeleine’s sister, not her daughter.
Molière did not actually die on stage, despite the popular myth. He collapsed during a performance of The Imaginary Invalid while playing a hypochondriac. He finished the show through sheer will but died a few hours later at home.
He wore the color green during his final performance. Since then, French actors consider green to be an incredibly unlucky color on stage. Many superstitious performers still refuse to wear it in theaters today.
Priests refused to give him a proper Christian burial because he was an actor. Actors were technically excommunicated by the church during the 17th century. Consequently, his family had to beg the King to intervene so he could be buried in holy ground.
His funeral took place at night to avoid a public riot. The King granted permission for the burial only if it happened after dark with no ceremony.
The French language is often called “the language of Molière.” His impact on French culture is similar to Shakespeare’s influence on English. He elevated comedy to a high art form that rivaled classical tragedy.
He wrote a part specifically for a dog in one of his ballets. He always looked for innovative ways to entertain the royal court at Versailles. He understood that novelty and spectacle pleased the King just as much as witty dialogue.
His grave at Père Lachaise Cemetery might not actually hold his bones. Therefore, some historians doubt whether the body in the famous tomb is really him.
