When and where was Molière born?
Molière was baptised Jean Poquelin on the 15th of January 1622 in Paris. He was the first son of Jean Poquelin and Marie Cressé, who had married on the 27th of April 1621.
Questions about Molière
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why did Molière change his name from Jean-Baptiste Poquelin?
He most likely adopted the stage name Molière to spare his father the social shame of having an actor in the family. The name may have been taken from a small village called Molière in the Midi near Le Vigan. Actors at the time were still forbidden from burial in sacred ground.
Why was Molière's play Tartuffe banned?
Tartuffe, first performed at Versailles in 1664, was banned because its depiction of religious hypocrisy in the dominant classes outraged the Catholic Church in France, the Jansenists, and a coalition known as the parti des Dévots. Even a revised version under the title Panulphe was suppressed in 1667 as soon as Louis XIV left Paris.
How did Molière die?
Molière died on the 17th of February 1673, hours after collapsing on stage during a performance of his final play, Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid). He suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis and was seized by a coughing fit and haemorrhage while playing the hypochondriac Argan. He died without receiving last rites because two priests refused to visit and a third arrived too late.
Where is Molière buried?
Molière's remains are at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, close to those of La Fontaine. He was originally buried in the section reserved for unbaptised infants, because French law at the time barred actors from sacred burial ground. His remains were moved to the museum of French monuments in 1792 and transferred to Père Lachaise in 1817.
What is the comédie-ballet and did Molière invent it?
The comédie-ballet is a theatrical form that weaves dance directly into the action of a play. Molière invented it in 1661 when he was asked to produce both a play and a ballet for Louis XIV but lacked a large enough cast to do both separately. He was commissioned to produce twelve more comédies-ballets after the first success.