The Learned Ladies.

Ms. Gergely recommended that I read this play for a research component piece. It is titled, The Learned Ladies, or Les Femmes Savantes (it's a french play). It was written by the legendary french playwright and actor, Moliere. The play is essentially a satire of academic pretention, female education and preciousness. It first premiered in the Theatre du Plaias-Royal on March 11, 1672.

Summary:

Henriette and Clitandre are two young adults in love with one another, and they want to marry. But, before they are to marry and live happily ever after, they must overcome a challenge. The attitude of Henriette's family, like her mother, Philmante. Her uncle and father are supportive of the marriage, but both are under the influence of the mother. Philmante, along with the sister and aunt of Henriette, want her to marry Trissotin, a poet and a scholar, with quite large teeth. Those three are all obsessed with him. These ladies are all "learned", which means their understanding of life is pretentious.

Characters:

Philante: The mother, discovered Trissotin, flattered by his intellectual pride, and intimidates her husband.

Belise: The aunt, never married, most likely why she has become a "Learned" lady, but still irresistile to men.

Armande: The eldest daughter, once courted by Clitandre, but she rejected him and so he fell inlove with her sister.

Trissotin: The Learned Ladies favorite. While seemingly intelligent in literature in science, he is actually pretentious, and writes terrible poetry.

Vadius: A greek scholar, comrade of Trissotin.

Chrysale: The father, claims to make all the decisions of the household, but greatly intimidated by his wife.

Henriette: Youngest daughter, wants to marry Clitandre.

Clitandre: Henriette's fiance

Reaction:

This was an interesting play. I thought it was interesting to look at what was considered a comedy in the 1600's compared to the comedy we now see in 2011. Aside from that, the play was pretty good, the language is more sophisticated, a little harder to understand at times. The story is a common love story plot line.