The Bourgeois gentilhomme E-Book

Vincent Jooris

• Herausgeber: BrightSummaries.com
• Kategorie: Bildung
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 29

Beschreibung

What should we learn from The Bourgeois gentilhomme, the essential play of French theatrical heritage? Find everything you need to know about this work in a complete and detailed analysis.
You will find in this sheet:
- A complete summary
- A presentation of the main characters such as Monsieur and Madame Jourdain, Dorante and Dorimène
- An analysis of the specificities of the work: "A comedy-ballet", "The fashion of the turqueries", "A comic play" and "A satire on the parvenus"
A reference analysis to quickly understand the meaning of the work.

Leseprobe

MOLIERE

FRENCH PLAYWRIGHT, ACTOR AND THEATRE DIRECTOR

•Born in 1622 in Paris

•Died in 1673 in the same town

•Some of his works:

°Dom Juan (1665), comedy

°The Miser (1668), comedy

°Le Malade imaginaire (1673), comedy-ballet

Molière (whose real name was Jean-Baptiste Poquelin) was born in Paris into the wealthy bourgeoisie. He turned to the theatre at an early age and founded the Illustre-Théâtre company (1643-1645) with the actress Madeleine Béjart (1618-1672). After 13 years of itinerant theatre in the provinces, he returned to Paris, where he was noticed by King Louis XIV (1638-1715), who took him into his service and placed him under his protection.

Molière mainly wrote comedies in which, under the guise of laughter, he exposed the faults of his contemporaries (preciosity, pedantry, avarice, etc.) and criticised certain members of 17th-century society (authoritarian fathers, false devotees, charlatan doctors, etc.)

On 17 February 1673, he fell ill on stage during a performance of Le Malade imaginaire and died at home that evening. His many plays still have a considerable influence today and make him a major author of the classical century.

THE BOURGEOIS GENTILHOMME

MR. JOURDAIN OR THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR

•Genre: comedy-ballet

•Reference edition:Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, Le Médecin malgré lui, Paris, Maxi-Livres, 2005, 158 p.

•1st edition: 1670

•Themes: bourgeoisie, arrivisme, ridicule, parvenus, social climbing, education

First performed in 1670 at the court of Louis XIV, Le Bourgeois gentilhomme is a comedy-ballet by Molière, which combines the music of Jean-Baptiste Lully (French composer of Italian origin, 1632-1687) with dance interludes by Pierre Beauchamp (French dancer and ballet master, 1631-1705).

A very rich bourgeois, Mr. Jourdain is a parvenu. Seized by the folly of grandeur, he wishes to join the aristocracy. He tries to learn the manners of the aristocracy (thanks to private lessons given to him by masters), courts a marquise and seeks a noble son-in-law. But he only succeeds in being mocked and swindled by everyone.

This famous play, the forerunner of the musical, has been performed thousands of times since its creation, making it a classic. It has also been adapted several times for film and opera.

SUMMARY

ACT I

Scene I

The music master and the dancing master are pleased to have Mr. Jourdain as a pupil, because, although he has little knowledge of the nobility, he pays them well. In addition to the money, the dancing master appreciates the praise he receives for practising his art, as it flatters his ego.

Scene II

Mr. Jourdain arrives. The two masters hypocritically admire his attire and pay him many compliments – even though their guest is in fact dressed only in a dressing gown and a bonnet.

Mr. Jourdain then listens to a serenade composed by the music master's disciple, which he finds gloomy. He then sang a light ditty; both masters complimented him, and each assured him of the indispensability of his art.

The scene ends with a musical interlude composed of three musicians, which pleases Mr. Jourdain very much.

ACT II

Scene I

Mr. Jourdain proves the crudeness of his artistic tastes by confessing to liking the marine trumpet, an instrument known to make an unmelodious noise. He agrees to a music concert at his home once a week, as the music master says this is a custom observed by people of quality.

Mr. Jourdain then announces the arrival of the Marquise Dorimène that very evening. He then wants to learn to curtsy.

Scenes II and III