Molière

Molière, born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin in 1622, abandoned a legal career to pursue theater, co-founding the Illustre Théâtre in 1643. After its failure, he spent years touring the provinces, honing his craft as both actor and playwright. Returning to Paris, he gained royal patronage under Louis XIV, producing comedies that blended farce with biting social commentary. His major works include Tartuffe (1664), which attacked religious hypocrisy and was temporarily banned; The Misanthrope (1666), a study of social alienation; and The Imaginary Invalid (1673), a satire of medical quackery. Molière's genius lay in elevating comedy to a vehicle for moral and philosophical critique, influencing later dramatists from Racine to modern playwrights. He died in 1673, collapsing onstage during a performance of The Imaginary Invalid. His legacy endures as a cornerstone of French literature and world theater.