Molière's Theatre Examined Through a Study in Dramatic Structure

Abstract

<p>The purpose of this paper will he to analyze Molière's theatre in terms of the dramatic traditions that the author knew. The dramatic structure of select plays from the beginning, the middle, and the latter part of Molière's career will be examined. The analysis will reveal that the creation of the plays was partially inspired by the traditions that Molière, the actor knew, namely, French and Italian farce, and that the development from simple farces to a new kind of comic entertainment was the result of a complex inter-relation between various approaches and techniques of dramaturgy.</p>