As is the case in most if not all of molieres shows, this one provides a biting satire on french society, especially in the upper class. The imaginary invalid 1673 may be considered another of moliere s great character plays, in which the entire development of the action, like in the miser, centered around a single trait of character upon which everything turns, in this case, that of the hypochondriac. Media partner dc magazine provides promotional support throughout the run. Kathi is the editorinchief and creative schmuztar of schmuzter, a social media one.
You can find a summary of this act, as well as the prologue and acts ii. This is a show about pretense, about a facade of opulence that hides a more selfindulgent reality. Le malade imaginaire the imaginary invalid share this article. The end of the imaginary invalid is a celebration of several things. The imaginary invalid was the last piece to be written by the french playwright moliere. The imaginary invalid by moliere adapted by joellen bland characters. He was very ill, nearly dying, at the time he wrote it. Download molieres the imaginary invalid for your kindle, tablet, ipad, pc or mobile.
Moliere himself played argan on opening night of the first production of the play. Help us introduce it to others by writing an introduction for it. Is this quotation from molieres imaginary invalid good latin or simply a wretched bastardised sort of doglatin to pillory his doctors. His father was one of eight court upholsterers to louis xiv, and thus the young man had access to the best education of the day, studying under the jesuits at the college of claremont. The imaginary invalid themes moliere this study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the imaginary invalid. His production will play at the shakespeare theatre companys sidney harman hall from june 10 to august 2, 2008. It was first acted at the palais royal theatre, on february 10, 1673. The work has the characteristics of an opera and a play and it was very popular during the reign of louise. Full text of the imaginary invalid internet archive. Quotations unless otherwise noted, the translations are by john woods 1959. In an ironic twist of fate, moliere collapsed during his fourth performance as argan on 17 february and died soon after.
Oct 01, 2005 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The miser and other plays penguin, 2004, isbn 97801419384. The imaginary invalid fulllength version adapted by. You can find a summary of this act, as well as the prologue and. The imaginary invalid 1673 may be considered another of molieres great character plays, in which the entire development of the action, like in the miser, centered around a single trait of. Purgon, argans physician thomas diafoirus, clumsy suitor to angelique beralde, argans brother. The imaginary invalid, comedy in three acts by moliere, produced in 1673 and published in 1674 as le malade imaginaire. The imaginary invalid, or the hypochondriac french. The imaginary invalid by jean baptiste poquelin moliere. Oct 01, 2005 enter your search terms separated by spaces, then press. It premiered on 10 february 1673 at the theatre du palaisroyal in paris. Three and two make five, and five make ten, and ten make twenty.
Moliere sets up the exposition of the play in act i by the apothecary bills argon is reading aloud. Argan, a hypochondriac toinette, his maidservant angelique, his daughter beline, his wife monsieur bonnefoy, a lawyer cleante, in love with angelique dr. End of project gutenbergs the imaginary invalid, by moliere poquelin end of the project gutenberg ebook the imaginary invalid this file should be named 7mald10. The project gutenberg ebook of the imaginary invalid, by. Dramatists play service, one of the premier playlicensing and theatrical publishing agencies in the world, was formed in 1936 to foster national opportunities for playwrights by publishing affordable editions of their plays and handling the performance rights to these works. It is also unique among his other works in that it begins with an homage to louis xiv and features three commedia dellarte interludes. Jul 15, 2008 director keith baxter discusses his production of the imaginary invalid. His keen observations and barbed wit deflated the pretensions of society in his day and focused a brilliant light on the universal frailties of humanity. The greatest writer of french classic comedy, the 17thcentury playwright moliere was one of the most brilliant satirists in the history of literature. In molieres outrageous satire of medicine and its practitioners, the wealthy argan, to put it mildly, enjoys poor health. The imaginary invalid is arguably molieres most famous play. The imaginary invalid was the last piece to be written. Beline a character in the imaginary invalid by moliere author description.
Molieres the imaginary invalid adapted by timothy mooney. Please summarize all the scenes in act 1 of le malade imaginaire by moliere. Argan sitting at a table, adding up his apothecarys bill with counters. Enrich your experience of the imaginary invalid and discover the fascinating explanations behind the shows meaningful character names. Is this quotation from molieres imaginary invalid good. Dramatists play service, one of the premier playlicensing and theatrical publishing agencies in the world, was formed in 1936 to foster national opportunities for playwrights by publishing. Molieres le malade imaginaire the imaginary invalid finale. It was first performed in 1673 and was the last work he wrote. The imaginary invalid is a comedyballet by jean baptiste moliere in three acts. Finkelstein produced at the university of cincinnati, college conservatory of music. The next night, onstage high jinks merge with backstage drama when the troupe performs the forced marriage, and moliere must deal with the demands of the king as he realizes that his. Argan, a hypochondriac toinette, his maidservant angelique, his daughter beline, his wife monsieur bonnefoy.
Imaginary invalid moliere s the imaginary invalid is a play about a hypochondriac who is so obsessed with his health and money that he ends up neglecting his familys needs to better his own. First performed in 1673, when moliere was already well known for his comedic attacks on the professional antics of doctors and other privileged snobs, this farce manages to poke fun both at the medical profession and at its gullible clientele. Item, on the 24th, a small, insinuative clyster, preparative and gentle, to soften, moisten, and refresh the bowels of mr. As is the case in most if not all of molieres shows, this one. Argans name sounds a little like argent, which in french means money. The imaginary invalid by moliere free at loyal books. As created by moliere, the hypochondriac is someone who wants to be sick. The author was ill and facing his own mortality when he created a character who only imagined a similar fate. It premiered on 10 february 1673 at the theatre du palaisroyal in paris and was originally choreographed by pierre beauchamp. The imaginary invalid is sponsored by the hrh foundation.
Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Imaginary invalid molieres the imaginary invalid is a play about a hypochondriac who is so obsessed with his health and money that he ends up neglecting his familys needs to better his. No, i shall do all in my power to forward her wishes. Moliere wrote the play while ill, and he collapsed during his own performance of the title role, that of argan, a hypochondriac who fears death and doctors.
The imaginary invalid or the hypochondriac is the last comedy and at the same time the last play written by moliere. Sep 09, 2016 enrich your experience of the imaginary invalid and discover the fascinating explanations behind the shows meaningful character names. This study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the imaginary. In the scenery i opted to accentuate this element of reality being nothing but a facade. Le malade imaginaire, is the last play written by moliere. Galilee, imagining the imaginary invalid is an attempt to fuse her parents way of working with the distinct style that she and ms. It also sounds a bit like orgon, a character from another of molieres plays whose faith in the titular character, tartuffe, is comparable to argans faith in. Honoring mom and moliere with imagining the imaginary invalid. The imaginary invalid a play in three acts by moliere an adaption by milles malleson samuel french, inc. The work has the characteristics of an opera and a play and it was very popular during the reign of louise xvi. Jan 10, 2016 they settled on the imaginary invalid, a 1673 moliere comedy about argan, a miserly, sedentary hypochondriac. The performances were great spectacles in which the text would intertwine with dancing and fireworks. Molieres the imaginary invalid and other kinds of academic papers in our essays database at many essays.
The imaginary invalid or the hypochondriac french title le malade imaginaire, l. Director keith baxter discusses his production of the imaginary invalid. Le malade imaginaire is a threeact comedieballet by the french playwright moliere. Beralde, can foil the wife, conquer the doctors, and satisfy argan.