MOLIERE: THE FRENCH CLOWN OF CRYSTALLIZED LANGUAGE Moliere is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and famous French His comedic plays capture the reader with a a perfect blendof intelligent and slap stick jokes. He mastered the "strange enterprise ofamusing decent people"(Guicharnaud, 2) with this simple philosophy: "Nothingis more effective(in making people laugh) then holding up the mirror tonature."(Guicharnaud, 21) Jean-Baptiste Poquelin was born in Paris on January 15, 1662. His fatherand Mother where both interior decorators for the king, although his motherdied when Jean-Baptise was ten years of age. He was sent to College deClaremont, an aristocratic Jesuit institution. Poquelin took a degree in law,which he never used in practice, and moved back to work with his father. Whenhe turned of age, he shocked his family by declaring he would not succeed hisfathers position. Instead , he took the stage name "Moliere", and began hiscareer as a thespian. He spent a short time in a debtor's prison and thenimmediately fled Paris. Thus began the most important stage in Moliere'syoung life. Moliere wondered about France, learning the trade of which he wouldeventually master, and become famous for. He learned how to handle everythingabout the stage. From writing, to acting, to controlling unhappy crowds thatwhere armed with fruits and vegetables as missiles. Immediately, his ownskits and plays where a success. His entire career was almost one ofcontinuous success. He worked his own theater, with his owntroupe(organization of actors) of which he was president. Louis the XIV wasone of his biggest patrons. For fifteen years he managed, wrote, acted andorganized performance at his theater. On February 17, 1673 Moliere suffered alung hemorrhage in the final seen of Le Malade,his last written play. Hefinished the last play, but had to be carried home. His death came aboutwithin a few hours. His wife frantically searched for a pri...
