He finished the performance but collapsed again and died a few hours later. In 1673, during a production of his final play, The Imaginary Invalid, Molière, who suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis, was seized by a coughing fit and a haemorrhage while playing the hypochondriac Argan. His hard work in so many theatrical capacities took its toll on his health and, by 1667, he was forced to take a break from the stage. For Tartuffe's impiety, the Catholic Church denounced this study of religious hypocrisy, which was followed by a ban by the Parlement, while Don Juan was withdrawn and never restaged by Molière. ĭespite the adulation of the court and Parisians, Molière's satires attracted criticism from churchmen. Molière continued as the official author of court entertainments. This royal favour brought a royal pension to his troupe and the title Troupe du Roi ("The King's Troupe"). In both locations, Molière found success among Parisians with plays such as The Affected Ladies, The School for Husbands, and The School for Wives. Later, he was granted the use of the theatre in the Palais-Royal. Performing a classic play by Pierre Corneille and a farce of his own, The Doctor in Love, Molière was granted the use of salle du Petit-Bourbon near the Louvre, a spacious room appointed for theatrical performances. Through the patronage of aristocrats including Philippe I, Duke of Orléans-the brother of Louis XIV-Molière procured a command performance before the King at the Louvre. Thirteen years as an itinerant actor helped him polish his comedic abilities while he began writing, combining Commedia dell'arte elements with the more refined French comedy. īorn into a prosperous family and having studied at the Collège de Clermont (now Lycée Louis-le-Grand), Molière was well suited to begin a life in the theatre. His influence is such that the French language is often referred to as the "language of Molière".
His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed at the Comédie-Française more often than those of any other playwright today. His extant works include comedies, farces, tragicomedies, comédie-ballets, and more. Jean-Baptiste Poquelin ( French pronunciation: 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière ( UK: / ˈ m ɒ l i ɛər, ˈ m oʊ l-/, US: / m oʊ l ˈ j ɛər, ˌ m oʊ l i ˈ ɛər/, French: ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and world literature. Tartuffe, The Misanthrope, The Learned Women, The School for Wives, L'Avare Portrait of Molière by Pierre Mignard ( c.