Dom Juan by Molière (Book Analysis) E-Book

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

Seitenzahl: 25

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

Unlock the more straightforward side of Dom Juan with this concise and insightful summary and analysis!

This engaging summary presents an analysis of Dom Juan by Molière, which tells the story of Dom Juan, a libertine, religious hypocrite, seducer, and yet a great lord, who goes against all the laws of God and man, before meeting his spectacular demise. It is one of the most famous plays by Molière, the well-known French playwright who entertained kings and people alike. It was, however, highly controversial when it was first released, causing Molière to delete many scenes so as to cause less offense. This is an unmissable read for anybody wanting to find out why this play was so scandalous and to find out more about religion and society in 17th century France. 

Find out all you need to know about Dom Juan in a fraction of the time!

This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you:
   • A complete plot summary
   • Character studies
   • Key themes and symbols
   • Questions for further reflection

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Leseprobe

Molière

French playwright, actor and stage manager

Born in Paris in 1622Died there in 1673Notable works:Dom Juan (1665), comedyThe Miser (1668), comedyThe Bourgeois Gentleman (1670), comédie-ballet

An author, director, stage manager and actor, Molière (whose real name was Jean-Baptiste Poquelin) was born in Paris in 1622 into the affluent bourgeoisie. Very early on he decided to pursue a career in the theater and founded, along with actress Madeleine Béjart, the Illustre Théâtre company. After twelve years of travelling theater in the provinces, he returned to Paris where he was noticed by Louis XIV who took him into his service.

He wrote mainly comedies in which, under the cover of humor, he highlighted the defects of his contemporaries (preciosity, pedantry, avarice, etc.) and criticized 17th century society (authoritarian fathers, religious hypocrisy, quack doctors, etc.). His many plays are still influential today, making Molière one of the most important authors of the classical century.

He died in Paris in 1673.

Dom Juan

Dom Juan or the punished libertine

Genre: theatre (comedy)Reference edition: Molière (2006) Dom Juan. Paris: Éditions Larousse.First edition: 1665Themes: seduction, debauchery, hypocrisy, religion, baroque

Dom Juan was performed for the first time in 1665. The play was a huge success for its first fifteen performances, until Molière was accused of impiety and of having deliberately chosen Sganarelle – Dom Juan’s opponent – as a poor defender of religion.

Borrowed from the Spanish comedy and Italian theatre, this tragicomedy mixes genres and does not respect the rule of the three unities. The play was never published during the author’s lifetime, but was rediscovered in the centuries that followed, and the “great Lord become an evil man” that Molière condemned became a fascinating myth.

Summary

Act I

Scene 1

Gusman, Dona Elvira’s horseman, comes to ask Sganarelle, a valet, the reason for their master Dom Juan’s precipitated departure, when he has just taken the young woman from her convent in order to marry her. Sganarelle answers that “a marriage costs him nothing to contract” and “a great lord become an evil man is a terrible thing”.

Scene 2

Dom Juan arrives and Sganarelle warns him of Dona Elvira’s presence. Dom Juan tells him that “another object has chased Elvira from [my] thoughts” and justifies his inconsistency: according to him, “all the pleasure of love subsists in change”.

Scene 3

To Elvira, who immediately realizes that Dom Juan doesn’t love her anymore, he offers a religious scruple as explanation: “I believed that our marriage was but adultery in disguise.” The religious hypocrite makes his first apparition in Dom Juan’s character, which provokes Elvira’s anger.

Act II

Scene 1

Pierrot, a peasant, tells Charlotte, a peasant girl, how he saved a master and his valet from drowning. He describes the gentleman’s lavish costume. Then, he reminds Charlotte that they are to be married.

Scene 2