1. By Jean Baptiste Poquelin a.k.a Moliere
The Misanthrope
By Jean Baptiste Poquelin
a.k.a Moliere

2. Moliere Biography
Born in 1622 in Paris, Jean Baptiste Poquelin began to go by the name Moliere when he became a writer.

3. Moliere Bio. Moliere came from a middle class family.
His father was the official furnisher of the French royal court.
Moliere was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps, but he fell in love with the theater.

4. Moliere Moliere studied in Paris and eventually practiced law.
Quickly he became a full-time playwright.
Since the theater was not considered a good career, he changed his name to Moliere so as not to embarrass his parents.

5. Moliere
Moliere became very successful and produced his plays throughout France.
He even put on performances at the French court for the king and aristocrats.

6. Moliere
Moliere was among the first playwrights to make comedy a well-respected genre.
(Shakespeare did too, just a generation earlier)

7. Moliere
Moliere continued to write, produce, and perform his own plays until his death in 1673.
Later in life, he suffered from financial problems, marital problems, and health problems.

8. The Misanthrope
Moliere has been a well-respected and popular playwright since his lifetime in the mid 1600s.
His plays have been translated and performed all over the world.
The Misanthrope is one of his most famous plays.

9. Character List
The key to understanding and enjoying the play is to memorize your characters! This is difficult because the names are foreign to us… but I have some ways to help.

10. Character List Alceste = main character He is in love with Celimene
Moliere often played Alceste on stage
I like to “Americanize” their names… so I call him Al.

11. Character List Celimene = also a main character
Sometimes Moliere’s wife played her on stage.
Will Celimene end up with Alceste? You’ll have to read to find out.
I like to call her Celi

12. Character List Philinte Phil (as I call him) is Al’s best friend
They talk about love and life.

13. Character List Oronte Another young man who is in love with Celi
So, of course, Al does not like Oronte

14. Character List Eliante Eli is Celi’s cousin and friend.
They talk about love and life.

15. Character List Arsinoe
Arsi is supposed to be Celi’s friend… but she gossips horribly about Celi.
Arsi is older and jealous.

16. Character List
Acaste and Clitandre are also suitors of Celi’s… but they are not really friends with Celi and her group. They are outsiders that come to woo Celi.
They don’t have much success.

17. Character List
Dubois = Al’s servant
Basque = Celi’s servant

18. Character List
A Guard = he doesn’t even get a name